Hurricanes sweep Flyers, make history with overtime win: Highlights
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Hurricanes sweep Flyers, make history with overtime win: Highlights
Mike Brehm, USA TODAY·USA TODAY Sports
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8 min read
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TheCarolina Hurricanesbecame the first team to clinch a berth in the conference finals − and made history in the process.
Beating thePhiladelphia Flyers3-2 in overtimeon Saturday, May 9, they became the first NHL team to sweep the first two rounds of the playoffs since the league went to four best-of-seven rounds for the 1987 playoffs.
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Jackson Blakegot the game-winner with his second goal of the game at 5:31 of overtime.
"The impressive part is how we've gone about it," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour told reporters. "Obviously, we're getting some huge performances, but everybody's doing it. It's how we have to get it done. Go down the list, every guy had his hands in these two series wins."
The Hurricanes swept theOttawa Senatorsin the first round, never trailing in that series and outscoring them 11-5.
The Flyers took leads in Games 2 and 4 of the second round series, but the Hurricanes chipped away both times and won in overtime.
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The Hurricanes will face the winner of the Buffalo Sabres-Montreal Canadiens series in the Eastern Conference final. That second-round series is tied 1-1.
USA TODAY provided live updates on Game 4 of the Hurricanes-Flyers series. Here are highlights:
Matt Boldyscored an empty-netter, his seventh goal of the playoffs, which moved him into a tie with Carolina'sLogan Stankovenfor first in the league.
Wild goalieJesper Wallstedtwas back in net after backing up in Game 2. He stopped 35 of 36 shots for the victory.
What's next for the Hurricanes?
They'll wait to find out the winner of the Buffalo Sabres-Montreal Canadiens series. The earliest that series could wrap up is Game 5 on May 14. Game 7, if the series goes that far, is May 18, so Carolina has a long wait ahead.
What's next for the Flyers?
They ended a five-year playoff drought and goalieDan Vladarhas another year on his contract. The biggest contract to settle will beTrevor Zegras, but he is a restricted free agent. So areJamie Drysdale,Emil Andraeand backup goalieSamuel Ersson. Pending unrestricted free agents are depth players, such asLuke Glendening.
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The team will have to figure out the power play, which finished last in the league in the regular season and clicked at only 8.3% in the playoffs.
The NHL has announced the winners for the Hart Trophy and the other major awards. Here's who won plus vote totals:
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
Hart Trophy (MVP) winner: Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, 1,436 points
(Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images)
Hart runner-up: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, 1,426 points
(Sean M. Haffey, Getty Images)
Hart finalist: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, 1,297 points
NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Philadelphia Flyers left wing Garrett Wilson
(Robert Edwards, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Anthony Mantha
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
49/57
NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington
(Connor Hamilton, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: San Jose Sharks goalie Laurent Brossoit
(Walter Tychnowicz, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Seattle Kraken right wing Jordan Eberle
(Matt Blewett, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh
(Keito Newman, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson
(Stan Szeto, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller
(Stephen R. Sylvanie, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen
(Bob Frid, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Akira Schmid
(Stephen R. Sylvanie, Imagn Images)
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NHL awards winners: Vote totals for 2025-26 regular season awards
Masterton nominee: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin
(Danny Wild, Danny Wild-Imagn Images)
Flyers console Dan Vladar after loss
Goalie Dan Vladar was the reason the Flyers made the playoffs and he was the reason theygot past the Penguinsin the first round. He made 37 saves in the Game 4 elimination loss and slammed his stick after the winning goal went in off his glove. His teammates consoled him after the loss and Flyers fans cheered as they team left the ice.
"That's kind of the reason I wanted to come here to Philly and be a Flyer is I know how tight this city could be," Vladar told reporters. "I'm so glad I got to experience it and I'm hungry for more."
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Hurricanes vs. Flyers recap
Final score: Hurricanes 3, Flyers 2 (OT)
Jackson Blake scores with a shot that goes off Dan Vladar's glove.
Avalanche vs. Wild game: How to watch
That will be shown on truTV with this game in overtime.
Overtime is underway
Carolina trying for a sweep. Philadelphia looking to force a Game 5.
End of third period: Hurricanes 2, Flyers 2
We're heading toovertime. Carolina's Logan Stankoven and Philadelphia'sAlex Bumpswap goals in that period 99 seconds apart. The Hurricanes are 2-0 in overtime this postseason,beating the Flyers in Game 2. The Flyers are 1-1.
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2 minutes left
2-2. "Let's go Flyers" chants start.
Less than 5 minutes left
Still tied 2-2.
Less than 10 minutes left
2-2 score. Carolina leads 31-12 in shots.
Flyers score: Alex Bump ties game
Travis Konecnyforces a turnover and feeds Alex Bump for the tying goal 1:39 after Carolina had taken the lead. Hurricanes 2, Flyers 2
Hurricanes score: Logan Stankoven gives Carolina lead
Carolina is on a 3-on-2 rush.Taylor Hallgets around his defender and feeds Logan Stankoven for a quick shot. That's seven goals for Stankoven as he retakes the league lead. Hurricanes 2, Flyers 1
Third period underway
Tied 1-1. Hurricanes advance with a win. Flyers stay alive with a win.
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End of second period: Hurricanes 1, Flyers 1
The Hurricanes get the tying goal in that period and nearly a go-ahead one, butAlexandre Carrierwas ruled to have interfered with goalie Dan Vladar. Plenty of opportunities for a go-ahead goal, butFrederik Andersenmakes a pad save during a 2-on-1 break, the Hurricanes shoot wide on a 3-on-1 break andChristian Dvorakhits the post. Shots are 23-9 Hurricanes.
Christian Dvorak hits post
That keeps the score tied 1-1 heading into the second intermission.
Hurricanes missed opportunity
Mark Jankowskishoots wide on a rebound on a 3-on-1 break.
Hurricanes go-ahead goal waved off
Mark Jankowski scores 28 seconds after Blake, but the Flyers challenge for goalie interference. The challenge works and the goal is waved off. Hurricanes 1, Flyers 1
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Hurricanes score: Jackson Blake ties game
His wrist shot goes in off Jamie Drysdale and it's a tie game at 12:33. Hurricanes 1, Flyers 1
Flyers go on power play
Jordan Staalis called for tripping. He's unhappy about the call.Sebastian Ahois called for hooking, so it's 5-on-3 for 40 seconds. Hurricanes kills that and the Flyers'Rasmus Ristolainentakes a penalty. Finally, it's back to even strength and still 1-0 Flyers.
Hurricanes go on power play
During that Hurricanes' surge, Philadelphia'sSean Couturieris called for hooking. Flyers kill it off.
Dan Vladar comes up big
He stops Taylor Hall in tight and then stops a deflection.
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Second period underway
1-0 Flyers.
End of first period: Flyers 1, Hurricanes 0
The Flyers score the first goal of the game, and it's a big one for the goal scorer.Tyson Foersterhad no points in his previous nine games this postseason. The Flyers weren't able to add to their lead as they did in Game 2, so they head into intermission with a one-goal lead.
Flyers missed opportunity
Travis Konecny misses the net on a 2-on-1 break in the final seconds.
Flyers go on power play
Jordan Martinookgoes off for interference. Flyers are 1-for-16 in the series. They don't score this time, either, getting no shots on the power play.
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Hurricanes go on power play
Porter Martone is called for hooking. Carolina gets no shots as the Flyers kill the penalty.
Flyers score: Tyson Foerster connects
Tyson Foerster scores to get his first point of the playoffs at 7:50. This is just the second time that the Hurricanes haven't scored the first goal of the game. Flyers 1, Hurricanes 0
5 minutes in
Carolina leads 4-1 in shots.
Game underway
Goalie matchup again is Carolina's Frederik Andersen vs. Philadelphia's Dan Vladar. Flyers will have five rookies in the lineup.
When is Flyers vs Hurricanes Game 4?
Game 4 will be played at 6 p.m. ET at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
Matvei Michkov and Emil Andrae won't play in Game 4 for the Flyers. Going in are Jeff Luchanko and Oliver Bonk.
Hurricanes projected lines
Flyers have overcome 3-0 deficit before
The Flyers' task looks daunting but they have rallied from a 3-0 series deficit before. That was in 2010 when they won four in a row after theBoston Bruinshad led the series 3-0.
