Morning Coffee: Can Hurricanes second line deliver more heroics in Game 3?

The Montreal Canadiens have been one of my favourite underdog stories of the 2025-26 NHL season.

The young, fun team that some didn’t even think would make it this far went seven games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, eliminated FanDuel’s favourite to win the Eastern Conference on the road, and inspired a fan base to believe they have more to give.

If they don’t play better than they did last night, the Buffalo Sabres will be the final chapter in that story.

While the series opened as a pick’em at FanDuel, the Sabres won Game 1 convincingly.

The team with the home ice advantage and the rest advantage certainly looked the part, pushing the Habs around physically, and limiting their scoring chances.

It was the first time this postseason that Montreal failed to score more than one goal in a game.

It was also the first time they lost by more than one goal.

Historically, teams that win Game 1 of a best-of-seven series have gone on to advance 68 per cent of the time.

Game 1 winners went 10-5 in the first round this year.

Buffalo’s odds to advance shifted from -120 to -215 following a statement win in the series opener.

The Canadiens are +112 to win Game 2 on Friday night and +176 to advance at FanDuel this morning.

Game 2 isn’t a must-win for Montreal.

However, they’re going to have to be a lot better than they looked last night to have any chance in the series.

Meanwhile, the focus now shifts to another team that must be a lot better tonight if they are going to have any shot at rallying from down 2-0 in their series.

The Philadelphia Flyers surprised a lot of people when they upset the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round.

After blowing a 2-0 lead in a 3-2 overtime loss in Game 2, the Flyers return home to face the Carolina Hurricanes down 2-0 in that series.

Can Philadelphia bounce back with a win tonight?

Let’s set the stage and lock in a FanDuel Best Bet for tonight’s game in this Morning Coffee column for Thursday May 7th, 2026.

Can Hurricanes Second Line Deliver More Heroics In Game 3?

Logan Stankoven has been one of the breakout stars of these Stanley Cup Playoffs.

After averaging 0.54 points per game during the regular season, Stankoven registered six goals and seven points in his first six games of the postseason.

Then something strange happened in Game 2.

The Hurricanes rallied from down 2-0 to beat the Flyers 3-2 in overtime, but Stankoven didn’t register a point.

It certainly wasn’t for a lack of opportunities.

Meanwhile, Stankoven’s linemates picked up the slack.

Taylor Hall scored the overtime winner.

Jackson Blake registered two primary assists, including one on the winner from Hall.

The Hurricanes have reached the Eastern Conference Finals in two of the last three years, only to fall short.

A lack of secondary scoring has been one of their issues.

With the line of Stankoven, Hall, and Blake combining for 11 goals and 24 points in seven games, it looks like Carolina has found the production they’ll need if they advance to the final four.

However, this time around they’ll need more from the top line of Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, and Andrei Svechnikov than they’ve provided so far.

Jarvis and Aho have combined for seven points.

Svechnikov has been held to one assist and hasn’t scored despite ranking second on the Hurricanes in shots on goal (20) behind only Stankoven (27).

Carolina is a perfect 6-0 so far this postseason thanks in large part to the production of their second line and the play of goaltender Frederik Andersen.

Eventually, the top line needs to start producing.

Will it happen tonight in Game 3 in Philadelphia?

Maybe, but we’re still getting good value when it comes to FanDuel’s player props for Carolina’s second line.

Jarvis, Aho, and Svechnkikov all have shorter odds to register 1+ point tonight than Stankoven.

Meanwhile, Hall and Blake are both +100 to record 1+ point.

With the Flyers staring down a potential 3-0 series deficit, the expectation is that we’ll see another low-scoring affair with the over 5.5 at +120 at FanDuel.

The Hurricanes are a -162 road favourite.

Carolina outshot Philadelphia 23-19 in Game 1 and then 42-36 in overtime in Game 2.

Regardless of which team comes out on top tonight, I think the most likely scenario is that the Hurricanes continue to generate more shots on goal.

In Game 1, Stankoven led all skaters with five shots on goal on seven attempts and scored twice.

In Game 2, he had four shots on goal on a team-high nine shot attempts but was held without a point for the first time in these Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Stankoven 3+ shots on goal has cashed in all six of Carolina’s games this postseason.

Stankoven 1+ shot on goal in the first period is also 6/6.

Stankoven 1+ point is and anytime goal are both 5/6.

I’ll go with Stankoven 3+ shots on goal at -110 as my FanDuel Best Bet for Game 3 tonight.

I’ll also play 4+ shots on goal at +220, and a builder SGP with 1+ shot on goal in the first period and 2+ shots on goal in the game at -130.

Finally, you can add Stankoven 1+ point -128, Hall 1+ point +100, and Blake 1+ point +100 to my bet card.

Carolina’s second line has been fantastic this postseason.

Maybe the Flyers completely shut them out tonight.

After watching them dominate their first six games of these Stanley Cup Playoffs, I’m willing to roll the dice on that hot streak continuing in Philadelphia tonight.

Make sure you give me a follow @Domenic_Padula on X for all my plays for Game 3 tonight.

Have a great day, everyone!