Hurricanes vs. Canadiens Recap: Four Plays Cash in a 10-Goal Game

The Hurricanes beat the Canadiens 6-4 in regulation in a game that swung back and forth through the first period before Carolina pulled away. Taylor Hall opened the scoring at 2:25 of the 1st, but Montreal answered with goals from Zachary Bolduc at 3:23 and Nick Suzuki at 4:27. Eric Robinson tied it at 9:22, and Bolduc's power-play goal at 12:54 sent Montreal into the first intermission up 3-2. Carolina took over from there: Sebastian Aho scored on the power play at 3:56 of the 2nd, Mark Jankowski gave the Hurricanes the lead at 13:24, and Hall's second goal at 12:21 of the 3rd made it 5-3. Juraj Slafkovsky pulled Montreal within one at 16:57, and Andrei Svechnikov sealed it with an empty-netter at 18:45. Carolina outshot Montreal 34-20. Jakub Dobes made 28 saves on 33 shots for Montreal, and Brandon Bussi made 16 saves on 20 shots for Carolina. Each team scored once on the power play, Carolina on 5 chances and Montreal on 6. Four DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game.

What cashed

Lane Hutson 1+ points (-145 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Hutson put up 78 points last season and recorded a point in 66% of his games. He came in off a Saturday game with 3 points in 29:06 of ice time. - What happened: Hutson finished with 0 goals, 1 assist and 2 shots on goal in 29:21, including 5:54 on the power play. His assist came on Suzuki's goal at 4:27 of the 1st, clearing the 0.5 line by 0.5. At a 64 confidence, this was a longer shot that landed. - Worth watching: He led all Montreal skaters in ice time and power-play time. That kind of usage keeps his point prop worth a look as long as the price stays in range.

ALT: Over 4.5 total goals (alt): CASHED - Our read: The main total was 6.5, one of the highest numbers on the slate, and Montreal had allowed 8 goals in 2 games. - What happened: The teams combined for 10 goals, 5.5 over the alt line. The over was home before the first intermission, when Bolduc's power-play goal at 12:54 of the 1st was the fifth goal of the night. - Worth watching: When the main total sits this high, the alt over gives a lot of cushion. It only makes sense at a short enough price, so check it against your breakeven before playing it.

Nick Suzuki 1+ points (-250 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Suzuki had 101 points last season with a point in 77% of his games, and he posted 4 points against Pittsburgh on Saturday. - What happened: Suzuki had 1 goal and 1 assist with 2 shots on goal in 21:49, with 5:27 on the power play. His snap shot at 4:27 of the 1st cleared the 0.5 line early, and he added the second assist on Slafkovsky's goal at 16:57 of the 3rd. He finished 1.5 over the line. - Worth watching: He logged 5:27 on the power play and had a hand in half of Montreal's goals. The price is steep, so this one fits better as a parlay leg than a straight play.

Brandon Bussi under 22.5 saves (-120 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Carolina had allowed 20, 27 and 18 shots in its three games, and Montreal had managed 24 and 25. Bussi stayed at 22 saves or fewer in 22 of his 39 starts last season. - What happened: Bussi made 16 saves on 20 shots, 6.5 under the line. It was not his sharpest night, with 4 goals allowed, but the save count never got close because Montreal only put 20 shots on him. At a 60 confidence, this was a longer shot that landed. - Worth watching: Carolina limited shots again, which is the whole angle. A save under is a bet on shot volume, not on the goalie playing well, and this game showed that.

How the game played out

The 1st was wide open, with five goals in the first 12:54. The 2nd was the swing period: Carolina scored twice, once on the power play, and did not allow a goal. Montreal blocked 16 shots and still gave up 34 on goal, so Dobes was under steady pressure all night.

Trends to watch

• Montreal leaned heavily on Hutson, who played 29:21. Suzuki, Slafkovsky and Chris Kreider all logged more than 5 minutes on the power play.
• Carolina's shot share was lopsided at 34-20. Dobes faced 33 shots in 57:13, a heavy workload for a goalie.
• Penalties were frequent, with 11 combined power-play chances. Aho, Blake, Gostisbehere and Svechnikov each logged more than 4 minutes on Carolina's power play.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. For more, see our NHL page, the alt line glossary entry and the player prop glossary entry.