nicolas deslauriers caught on fast when a group of Montreal Canadiens fans tried to prank Carolina Hurricanes players before Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Some of his teammates had already signed the front of a Hurricanes jersey before the back was flipped to reveal “Habs in 4.”
The fans came from HabsFanTV and dressed as Hurricanes supporters to get close enough for autographs. Deslauriers appeared to know what was happening and addressed them in French after the trick had already landed on several players.
HabsFanTV Jersey Trick
The setup was simple and worked on part of the room. The group wore a Hurricanes jersey and used it as bait, waiting for players to sign the front before showing the message on the back.
That same approach had already been used in the earlier rounds against the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Buffalo Sabres, which made this the latest stop in a prank the fans had repeated through two previous playoff rounds.
Deslauriers Spots the Setup
What changed here was Deslauriers’ read on the moment. After some teammates had fallen for it, he appeared to recognize the prank before it went any further and spoke to the fans in French.
The timing made the scene stand out. It happened just before Game 2, with Montreal and Carolina in the Eastern Conference Final, and it was the kind of small pregame flashpoint that turns a routine autograph stop into part of the series story.
Game 2 Before Puck Drop
The prank landed on May 23, 2026, at 10:53 PM, and it fit the edge that has followed Montreal fans through the playoffs. The source described Canadiens fans as among the most rabid sports fans in any sport, and this one took place in that same setting, before the puck dropped on Game 2.
For Carolina, the practical takeaway was immediate: a few players signed the jersey, the joke was exposed, and Deslauriers shut it down in French before it could spread further. The incident ends there, with the prank already drawn out in public and the series still waiting for the next shift.
