Carolina Hurricanes’ Sean Walker (26) controls the puck in front of Washington Capitals’ Connor McMichael (24) during the first period of Game 4 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Washington Capitals’ Tom Wilson (43) controls the puck in front of Carolina Hurricanes’ Dmitry Orlov (7) during the second Game 4 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Carolina Hurricanes’ Logan Stankoven (22) has his shot blocked by Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) during the first period of Game 4 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Carolina Hurricanes’ Seth Jarvis celebrates after his goal against the Washington Capitals during the second period of Game 4 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Carolina Hurricanes’ Eric Robinson (50) battles for the puck with Washington Capitals’ Nic Dowd (26) with Hurricanes’ Jesperi Kotkaniemi (82) nearby during the first period of Game 4 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Hurricanes push Capitals to brink of elimination with 5-2 win
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) 鈥 Sean Walker cut to the middle of the ice and beat Logan Thompson for a critical late goal, then Andrei Svechnikov followed with an empty-net clincher to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Washington Capitals 5-2 on Monday night and take a 3-1 lead in their second-round NHL playoff series.
Carolina Hurricanes’ Sean Walker (26) controls the puck in front of Washington Capitals’ Connor McMichael (24) during the first period of Game 4 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) 鈥 Sean Walker cut to the middle of the ice and beat Logan Thompson for a critical late goal, then Andrei Svechnikov followed with an empty-net clincher to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Washington Capitals 5-2 on Monday night and take a 3-1 lead in their second-round NHL playoff series.
Carolina improved to 5-0 at home in the playoffs and can clinch a second trip to the Eastern Conference final in three years by winning Game 5 in Washington on Thursday.
鈥淚f I’m just honest with how I feel about it, I thought our first two games (on the road) might’ve been better than some of these games 鈥 just the chances we’ve given up, a little too much here for me,鈥 Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said.
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鈥淏ut obviously at this time of year, it’s about results. I like where we’re at, that’s for sure.鈥
Walker’s goal was a big one, coming after the Capitals had pulled to within 3-2 on Alex Ovechkin’s one-timer blast on a 5-on-3 power play with about eight minutes left. It started on a puck battle and the unusual sight of Washington’s Rasmus Sandin skating in only to get the blade of his stick stuck in a gap along the boards, allowing Taylor Hall to collect the puck and flip a pass to the surging Walker up the left side.
Walker hesitated to cut behind Jack Roslovic and score at the 16:45 mark to push the lead back to 4-2, marking his first career post-season goal.
Svechnikov followed with his seventh post-season goal shortly after the Capitals pulled Thompson, the capper after Carolina twice led by two goals but had to hold on through the final 10 minutes.
鈥淚 think as a whole, we kind of kept our composure,鈥 Walker said. 鈥淒idn’t really panic, just stuck to our systems.鈥
Hall, Seth Jarvis and Shayne Gostisbehere also scored for the Hurricanes, while Frederik Andersen carried a shutout into the third before finishing with 19 saves.
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Just as importantly, the Hurricanes twice responded as the Capitals inched within a goal in the third. Hall’s goal on a 1-on-1 chance came less than three minutes after Jakob Chychrun had brought the Capitals to within 2-1, sprung on a long pass from Roslovic after he was slow coming back and Washington’s defence lost track of him.
Walker’s marker came about 4 1/2 minutes after Ovechkin’s goal.
Ovechkin’s blast got the NHL’s career goals leader on the scoresheet for the first time this series. Thompson finished with 32 saves.
鈥淲e’re giving ourselves some opportunities, we’re just not executing, making the play, whatever you want to call it,鈥 Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. 鈥淎nd making some mistakes 鈥 and they’re capitalizing.鈥
To that point, the Eastern Conference’s top seed got a quick start after , starting with Connor McMichael getting a 1-on-1 chance on Andersen in the opening minute. Aliaksei Protas followed by ringing the right post shortly after.
Washington also managed just one shot on goal during a four-minute power play, the first 3 1/2 minutes of those coming to close the first period.
鈥淭heir penalty kill is excellent, best in the league, has been for the last, whatever, five years call it,鈥 Carbery said. 鈥淏ut it can’t look like that. It cannot look like that.鈥
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