Hurricanes will be huge test for Canadiens or Sabres in Eastern final | HI/O Bonus

The Carolina Hurricanes will be very well rested when they begin the Eastern Conference final series against either the Canadiens or the Buffalo Sabres.

Carolina swept its first two playoff series against the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers, going 8-0.

The Hurricanes completed their second-round sweep of the Flyers with a 3-2 overtime win in Game 4 on May 9. If the Canadiens and Sabres go the full seven games, Game 7 will be played on Monday, May 18.

Canadiens right-winger Cole Caufield sets up to shoot on Buffalo Sabres’ Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen during first period of Game 4 in Montreal on Tuesday. Allen McInnis / Montreal Gazette

So the Hurricanes could be looking at an 11-day break — at least — between games.

Could that actually be an advantage for the Canadiens if they meet the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final? How much rest is too much rest?

Those questions are answered on this Hockey Inside/Out Show bonus episode as The Gazette’s Stu Cowan is joined by former Canadiens teammates and 1986 Stanley Cup champions Chris Nilan and Rick Green.

Nilan and Green also discuss what they did during a weeklong break in the playoff schedule ahead of the 1986 Stanley Cup final against the Calgary Flames.

We will be back with our weekly Hockey Inside/Out Show after the Canadiens-Sabres series wraps up. In the meantime, if you haven’t already done so, please subscribe to the Hockey Inside/Out YouTube Channel. The Hockey Inside/Out Show is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 

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