For the first time since 1987, a team has won its first eight postseason games. At the time, it was the Edmonton Oilers led by Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier. But on Saturday night, it was the young and hungry Carolina Hurricanes as they swept the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round with a 3-2 overtime win.
The game started quietly for the Hurricanes. This was the first game of the series where they failed to score in the first period. However, for the Flyers, they took the lead in the first 20 minutes, as Tyson Foster scored his first career postseason goal, with assists from both Trevor Zegras and rookie Porter Martone.
However, at halftime of the second period, Jackson Blake tied the score with assists from K'Andre Miller and Taylor Hall, and the Hurricanes responded. Then, 28 seconds later, Mark Jankowski put a goal on the board...but it didn't stay on the board.
After the coach's challenge to Flyers bench boss Rick Tocchet for goaltender interference. William Carrier and Oliver Bonk were battling in the crease when Jankowski's shot hit the twine and thus, the goal was ruled out due to Carrier's presence.
Still, a goal went ahead for Carolina four minutes into the third frame – a goal that this time was as perfect as rain and as fine as wine. Logan Stankoven got past goaltender Dan Vlader with a clean short wrister on a great pass by Hall. The entire second line had their shots, with Blake passing the puck to Hall for his second point of the night.
And it certainly wasn't the last point of the game for the Hurricanes' creative young winger.
But first, the Flyers forced overtime with a goal by Alex Bump, after which Travis Konecny and Christian Dvorak managed to harass Miller enough to break the puck and send it his way.
When the extra frame arrived, the Hurricanes maintained the lead over the Flyers, spending time in their own zone and doubling them up in shots. However, the game-winner did not come as predicted. As new legs hit the ice for both teams, Jakob Slavin interrupted a chance for the Flyers to advance into the Hurricanes' own zone as Hall gained control of the puck. Stankoven led the attack as Hall and Blake raced the net, and Hall got tape of Blake, who shot it - the rubber flapped before hitting Vladar.
Soon after, the line to shake hands started. It was the first time Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour had experienced this in Philadelphia since May 2, 1999 – it was his last postseason experience playing with them.
storm notes
The Hurricanes are the first team in NHL history to win two best-of-seven series in the four-round playoff format.
Shawn Walker left Philadelphia at 6 a.m. Saturday to return home for the birth of his first child. He arrived back in town to join the team in the afternoon, just four hours before Game 4 started.
The second line has been involved in a goal in seven of eight games this postseason. Stankoven, Blake and Hall are the top three players individually in both goals and points, and total 31 points with 22 assists and 14 goals.
