Winners, losers from Saturday's NHL playoffs: Hurricanes get even with OT win

That was his biggest goal of the night.

It was not his prettiest.

That honor goes to the second period goal he scored to give Carolina a 2-1 lead.

Hurricanes slaying their ECF demons. At least for one night. At least for one game.

Entering play on Saturday, the Hurricanes were 1-17 in their previous 18 Eastern Conference Final games, going all the way back to the 2009 playoffs. 

When they allowed a game-tying goal to Josh Anderson late in the third period, it seemed as if they were going to find a way to lose another one. Fortunately for them, Ehlers was there to help swing the narrative.

Maybe this is the boost they need. 

Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes. Slavin has been one of the Hurricanes' best players for years and one of the league's best defenders. He had a game to forget in Game 1, finishing as a minus-4 in Carolina's ugly loss. He bounced back in a big way on Saturday.

In his 18 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time, the Hurricanes outscored the Canadiens 3-0, while also out-shooting them by an 11-3 margin. 

Saturday's losers

Montreal's offense. As good as the Canadiens were in Game 1 of the series, they were every bit as bad on Saturday. At least offensively. The Canadiens managed just 12 shots on goal in 64 minutes of hockey and could not generate any consistent pressure around the Carolina net. 

Andrei Svechnikov's trick shot attempt. Most players would not have the guts or confidence to try a move like this in any game, let alone an Eastern Conference game. 

Svechnikov is not like most players.

And because his team ended up winning, everybody will probably think nothing of it after the fact. 

If he had scored? A highlight reel for the ages.

Now it is just a footnote on the game.