Habs 'super underdogs' after G4 no-show at home

ESPN NHL reports that MONTREAL -- The Canadiens have faced elimination in these playoffs before.

But never with multiple games standing between them and the offseason.

That's where Montreal is now after a 4-0 loss to Carolina in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals Wednesday night that put the Canadiens in a 3-1 series deficit.

The Hurricanes put on a clinic, outshooting the Canadiens 43-18 -- with a 95-45 edge in shot attempts -- and carrying play from start to finish.

Not even the Canadiens could explain their poor performance on home ice (now with a 2-6 postseason record there) knowing what was at stake if they fell behind -- again -- in a critical outing.

"It's pretty self-explanatory, I guess," defenseman Lane Hutson said.