The Carolina Hurricanes are back in the Eastern Conference final for the third time in four seasons. They have plenty of time to rest and recharge before taking on that familiar roadblock. Carolina beat Philadelphia in overtime on Saturday to close out their second-round series in four games.
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Here's what to doVatican sending new signals of openness but limitations in outreach to LGBTQ+ CatholicsCarolina Hurricanes’ players celebrate after winning Game 4 against the Philadelphia Flyers in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. Carolina Hurricanes’ Jackson Blake reacts after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime during Game 4 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Philadelphia.
Carolina Hurricanes’ Alexander Nikishin battles with Philadelphia Flyers’ Garnet Hathaway during the second period of Game 4 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. Carolina Hurricanes’ players celebrate after winning Game 4 against the Philadelphia Flyers in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Philadelphia.
Carolina Hurricanes’ players celebrate after winning Game 4 against the Philadelphia Flyers in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. Carolina Hurricanes’ Jackson Blake reacts after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime during Game 4 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Philadelphia.
Carolina Hurricanes’ Jackson Blake reacts after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime during Game 4 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. Carolina Hurricanes’ Alexander Nikishin battles with Philadelphia Flyers’ Garnet Hathaway during the second period of Game 4 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Philadelphia.
Carolina Hurricanes’ Alexander Nikishin battles with Philadelphia Flyers’ Garnet Hathaway during the second period of Game 4 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. sweep through the first two rounds since the league went to best-of-seven series in all four rounds in 1987.
That has them back in the conference final for the third time in four seasons and fourth time in the current eight-year playoff run The Hurricanes will face the Montreal-Buffalo winner, a series running through at least Thursday. The East’s top seed had nearly a full week off after sweeping Ottawa in Round 1.
“I think it’s probably going to be an even longer break this time,” veteran forward Taylor Hall said after Saturday’s win in Philadelphia. “The big positive is we’re on to the third round relatively unscathed and healthy. You don’t want to see injuries per se, but we hope these series go far and these teams have battles. That’s the advantage we’re going to have.
... Rod, our strength staff, all of our staff, do a good job of making sure that we’re ready athletically to play. And from there, we get our footing pretty quickly. ”winning the first game of the NHL playoffs on April 18 .
They already have proven they can start quickly after a long break, opening the Flyers series with a dominating first periodTime to recharge Carolina’s game plan relies on grinding effort and energy: an aggressive forecheck to pressure opponents into mistakes, possessing the puck in the offensive zone and staying there and firing chances at goaltenders and chasing rebounds — all of which minimizes scoring chances going the other way. That’s why the benefit of fresh legs and recharged minds has mattered more than the risk of rust so far.
Consider veteran goaltender Frederik Andersen. The 36-year-old Dane had started 32 playoff games for Carolina the past three years and the question lingered as to how much to lean on Andersen with 31-game winner Brandon Bussi also available. But Andersen has been the best goaltender of the playoffs so far, with a 1.12 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage. He hasand has faced 25 or fewer shots in five of his eight games.
Now he’ll get another break to stay fresh. Thursday’s Game 3 road win that he got the call from wife Taylor back in North Carolina that their first baby was on the way. So, he hopped an early morning flight home for the arrival of a daughter just in time for Mother’s Day. He ate his pregame meal in the hospital cafeteria, then flew to Philadelphia around 2 p.m. Saturday ahead of the 6:15 p.m. puck drop.
“I didn’t want to get on the boys and tell them we better win tonight, but I’m really appreciative that everybody dug in,” Walker said. “The sweep’s huge for everybody. But to take this time to just be with my family is going to be really special. ”, shutting down 38 of 40 chances while getting a shorthanded goal in Game 3 at Philadelphia.
Offensively, the second line of Hall,That’s more than offsetting a quiet start for the Sebastian Aho-Andrei Svechnikov-Seth Jarvis top line, as well as a power play that is just 5 of 37 in the playoffs after ranking fourth in the regular season at 24.9%. Still, the Hurricanes never trailed in their first five postseason games, and have won their last five games with a chance to close out an opponent.
“The season is so long and there’s that 82-game season we talk about that no one really gives much credit to, and yet this team’s played well for eight months,” Brind’Amour said. “They didn’t just get hot at the end. It’s been night in, night out like this. And that’s the biggest takeaway for me.
Probably the thing I’m most proud of about this group is that. Beard covers sports in North Carolina for The Associated Press with an emphasis on college basketball. His coverage includes ACC sports and the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.
NC State Wire North Carolina NHL New York Stanley Cup Buffalo Sports Ottawa Brandon Bussi Logan Stankoven Rod Brindamour Montreal Andrei Svechnikov-Seth Jarvis NHL Hockey Stanley Cup Playoffs Taylor Hall Sean Walker Jackson Blake
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