Canes Overwhelm Caps in Raleigh During Games 3 and 4, One Victory Away From 2nd ECF in Three Seasons

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Entering Games 3 and 4 of their Second Round Stanley Cup Playoff Series, tied at one game apiece with their Metro Division rival Washington Capitals, the Carolina Hurricanes needed a momentum-swinging win to re-take control.

Carolina didn’t snag just one series-shifting victory – but two, with both occurring in front of the Canes’ raucous home crowd.

In Game 3 on Saturday, May 10, Carolina dominated Washington during a 4-0 victory inside the Lenovo Center. In Game 4 on May 12, the Canes pulled away during the third period en route to a 5-2 win – one which has the Caps a loss away from elimination.

Carolina outplayed Washington in virtually every aspect of Games 3 and 4, particularly the goaltending and offense departments. Let’s take a deeper dive into those Canes victories.

Carolina scores three third-period goals, pulls away from Caps in raucous win

Even during a rainy Monday night in Raleigh, Canes fans packed the Lenovo Center for Game 4.

This massive support paid off, with Carolina downing Washington 5-2, in large part thanks to timely offense late.

The Canes clung to a 3-2 lead just past halfway through the third period, due in part to allowing an Alex Ovechkin 5-on-3 powerplay goal. Taylor Hall scored Carolina’s third goal 8:24 into the final frame, responding to a Jacob Chychrun tally three minutes earlier, but the Caps quickly shifted momentum back to them on Ovie’s powerplay goal.

Sean Walker’s first postseason score, roughly four-and-a-half minutes after Ovie’s tally, nearly blew the roof off the Lenovo Center. With 3:15 left in the third period, Walker skated between the faceoff circles and rocketed a shot past Washington goalie Logan Thompson, extending the Canes’ advantage to 4-2.

Less than a minute later, Andrei Svechnikov clinched the game with an empty-netter, his team-leading seventh of the postseason.

Carolina started its scoring party early. Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere netted his third playoff goal midway through the first period, thanks to a wrist shot from just inside the blue line.

Only 1:05 into the second period, Seth Jarvis pushed a rebound just past Thompson for a 2-0 Canes lead.

Andersen nets first Playoffs shutout in Carolina’s massive Game 3 victory

When Frederik Andersen is healthy, the Canes play significantly better hockey. Such was the case in Game 3 on Saturday, May 10, with Carolina blanking the Caps 4-0 in Raleigh.

Andersen turned away all 21 Washington shots he faced, including a pair of Grade A chances in the first three minutes.

Andersen’s first big save came just 25 seconds in – on a breakaway backhander from Tom Wilson, who is Public Enemy Number One amongst Canes fans. Just over two minutes later, Andersen denied a one-timer from Taylor Raddysh in front of his net.

Svech and Jack Roslovic netted second period tallies to give Carolina a 2-0 lead, then Eric Robinson and Jackson Blade added third period goals.

When do the Canes and Caps play again?

Carolina travels up to Washington for Game 5 on Thursday, May 15 for a 7 p.m. faceoff. With a victory, the Canes advance to their second Eastern Conference Finals appearance in three seasons.