Every game,
explained.

ONE LINE VERDICT Carolina won because a dominant first period — three goals in the final three minutes — combined with Andersen conceding 1.8 goals below average to make a comeback structurally impossible. Montreal entered this game as the Atlantic's third seed but Carolina's shot and territorial dominance exposed a team that could not generate offense under playoff pressure. Three goals in 2:47 of the first period turned a potential contest into a damage-limitation exercise before the midpoint of the opening frame.

Aho's power-play goal at 14:59 of the first broke a 0-0 game and triggered a sequence Carolina never relinquished — two even-strength goals followed in 108 seconds, burying Montreal's structure before they could reset. Converting a power play to open a multi-goal burst removed Montreal's ability to respond within the same period, making the deficit psychological as much as numerical. WHY CAR WON (ranked by impact — most decisive first) 1. Shot Dominance: 43 shots to 18 — a 2.4:1 ratio sustained across 60 minutes that denied Montreal any sustained offensive zone presence or momentum. 2. Goaltending: Andersen conceded 1.8 goals below average on 18 shots — in a 4-goal game, that margin kept the shutout intact and eliminated any Montreal route back. 3. First-Period Execution: Three goals scored in a 2:47 window translated sustained territorial control into an insurmountable lead before Montreal could make structural adjustments. WHY MTL LOST (ranked by impact — biggest failure first) 1. Offensive Generation: 18 shots on goal — the volume failure meant Dobes conceding 1.2 goals below average on 43 shots faced still produced a 4-goal loss, because Montreal created nothing to trade with. 2. Penalty Discipline: 32 PIM to Carolina's 24 — four power play opportunities surrendered, one converted at the exact moment the game's trajectory was determined. 3. Faceoff Deficit: CAR won 46.3% of draws but MTL's 53.7% faceoff dominance produced zero shot advantage, indicating failed zone-entry and puck-management execution following won draws.