Twelve days between series is the longest break any NHL team has had since the Montreal Canadiens waited twelve back in 1919. Well over 100 years later the Hurricanes will face Montreal in the Eastern Conference Final.
The Canadiens advanced to the Eastern Conference Final on Monday, defeating the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in overtime of Game 7.
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It's been a long wait for the Hurricanes, who swept the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Canes, who are 8-0 in the playoffs, last played on May 9.
This is the third time in four seasons the Canes have made the Eastern Conference Final. They haven't made a return to the Stanley Cup Final since winning it in the 2005-06 season.
Carolina, the top seed in the Eastern Conference, will have home-ice advantage.
During the regular season the Canes went 0-3 vs the Canadiens. Montreal features Cole Caufield, who was second in the NHL this season with 51 goals. They are coached by Hall of Fame player Martin St. Louis. St. Louis won a Stanley Cup as a player with the 2004 Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Western Conference Final is set. Top-seeded Colorado and Vegas, which eliminated Anaheim with a win Thursday night, begin their best-of-seven series on May 20. A potential Game 7 in that series would be played on June 1, one day before a potential Game 7 in the Eastern Conference.
Eastern Conference Final schedule
Game 1: Thursday, May 21 at Carolina, 8 p.m. (TNT, 99.9 The Fan)
Game 2: Saturday, May 23 at Carolina, 7 p.m. (TNT, 99.9 The Fan)
Game 3: Monday, May 25 at Montreal, 8 p.m. (TNT, 99.9 The Fan)
Game 4: Wednesday, May 27 at Montreal, 8 p.m. (TNT, 99.9 The Fan)
Game 5: Friday, May 29 at Carolina* (if necessary), 8 p.m. (TNT, 99.9 The Fan)
Game 6: Sunday, May 31 at Montreal* (if necessary), TBD (TNT, 99.9 The Fan)
Game 7: Tuesday, June 2 at Carolina* (if necessary), 8 p.m. (TNT, 99.9 The Fan)
