Canes' Slavin: I handed Canadiens the game
Key takeaways
- RALEIGH, N.C. -- Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals was an uncharacteristic defensive disaster for the Carolina Hurricanes, and star defenseman Jaccob Slavin felt responsible for it.
- "Personally, I think I handed them the game," Slavin said after the Montreal Canadiens took a 1-0 series lead with a 6-2 rout in Raleigh on Thursday.
- Considered by many to be the best "defensive defenseman" in the NHL, Slavin was on the ice for three of the Canadiens' four first-period goals and another in the third period.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals was an uncharacteristic defensive disaster for the Carolina Hurricanes, and star defenseman Jaccob Slavin felt responsible for it.
"Personally, I think I handed them the game," Slavin said after the Montreal Canadiens took a 1-0 series lead with a 6-2 rout in Raleigh on Thursday. "I've got to be better."
Considered by many to be the best "defensive defenseman" in the NHL, Slavin was on the ice for three of the Canadiens' four first-period goals and another in the third period. His minus-4 rating was the worst in his 95 career playoff games and only the second time in his entire NHL career that he was worse than a minus-3 in a game.