The Montreal Canadiens hoped to go back to Bell Centre on a high. Instead, they will have to lick the wounds from a tense, Game 2 defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes in a showdown that went to overtime in Raleigh, North Carolina.
While the Eastern Conference Final series against the Hurricanes is now all square at 1-1, Canadiens fans were delivered a whole serving of panic after Lane Hutson was rattled by an absolutely massive hit in overtime.
Lane Hutson Injury Update Ahead of Montreal Canadiens’ Game 3 Fight
For a good moment, it looked like Montreal would take full control of the series and head back to Bell Centre up 2-0. Instead, the Canadiens puzzlingly failed to make the most out of what wiggle room Carolina had willingly surrendered on the night.
After Carolina took a 1-0 lead at 2:33 of the first period, the Canadiens tied it all up at 11:11 through Josh Anderson. Montreal was then left to chase once again as Nikolaj Ehlers put the Canes up at 17:03 of the second period before Anderson squared things up once again.
As the game headed to overtime, tensions ran high.
With Hutson reeling from his part in Ehlers’ leveler, he was a prime target for Taylor Hall, who landed a nasty hit on Hutson’s leg, sending him crashing into the glass. Hutson crumbled down to the ice in a heap and gestured furiously, slamming his stick to make his feelings crystal clear.
As he limped to the bench, his body language spelled out cause for concern. With Game 3 set for Monday, May 25, at Bell Centre, all eyes are on Hutson and if he can put the hit behind him.
Lane Hutson wasn’t happy after Taylor Hall stuck out his knee on a hit along the boards during OT pic.twitter.com/43zFbRFbP2
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) May 24, 2026
Head coach Martin St. Louis provided an update on his star blueliner on Sunday morning, calming concerns. He indicated that Hutson is fine for the moment after taking that monstrous hit and will be fit in time to take on the Hurricanes at home in Game 3.
#Habs Martin St-Louis said Lane Hutson is fine after taking a big hit last night
— Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) May 24, 2026
St. Louis also didn’t appear too fazed by the result on Saturday night. “We defended well, we worked hard,” he told reporters after the game. “For sure, the result is disappointing, you lose in overtime, but I liked how we carried ourselves.”
With that win, the Hurricanes are now 4-0 in these playoffs in overtime, a record that will hold them in good stead in a series that appears primed to go down to the wire.
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The turnaround to Game 3 is short and quick, which could work against the Canadiens’ favor, considering they looked gassed at the end of Game 2, which was Montreal’s ninth game in 18 days.
Fuel in the tank will legitimately be something to keep an eye on as Montreal looks to shake things up and take control of the series on Monday night at Bell Centre.
