The Carolina Hurricanes picked up a decisive victory in Game 3 against the Philadelphia Flyers, but it was not without its own level of disaster.
On Thursday night, the Hurricanes handed the Flyers a 4–1 defeat as they took a 3–0 series lead. This was the first game in front of a Philly crowd since April 29, when the Flyers won Round One in Game 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime.
Carolina was the first team on the board as Jordan Staal found the back of the net on the power play at the end of the first period. It was his first goal of the postseason, and it was a wonderful goal as he lofted it across the goal line on a backhand. Here both Andrei Svechnikov and Shayne Gostisbeer assisted him.
The second period soon arrived, and early in the frame, Jackson Blake took a delayed penalty for high-sticking against Cam York. However, the Flyers never really got going on the power play, as Trevor Zegras scored immediately afterward.
Later in the same frame, Taylor Hall took a hard hit on a falling Travis Sanheim, sending him into the boards. The play initially called for a five-minute main skit, but after review this was reduced to a two-minute short skit for boarding.
Just 11 seconds later, Jordan Staal and Jalen Chatfield teamed up on the penalty kill as they raced down the ice – Staal sent a daring pass to Chatfield through Zegras’ legs as the Hurricanes defenseman ripped a one-timer top shelf, returning them to the top of the scoreboard once again. Jordan Martinook was credited with an assist in the process.
Penalty Madness at the Midway Point
As the penalty kill resumed, Seth Jarvis had a shorthanded chance, but it was blocked by Jamie Drysdale – a move that should have been the end of the Flyers’ power play…except it didn’t.
After the whistle, Travis Konecny began pushing and shoving Jarvis, and also cross-checked him. In retaliation, JARVIS swung his twig and caught it in his face. He was swiftly sent to the penalty box along with Drysdale as if nothing had ever happened – with the remaining 5-on-4 play in the Flyers’ favor.
…but that wasn’t the end of it either.
Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour was particularly unhappy with the lack of call against Konecny. The referee, Garrett Rank, had enough and he immediately whistled him for a bench minor due to unsportsmanlike conduct.
“Usually gets a warning,” Brind’Amour said after the game. “I didn’t get any warnings. But I was a little disappointed in that sequence with what happened. They had the original (penalty), and then I don’t know how we came up with just one (drawn penalty). That was a frustration.”
Luckily for the Hurricanes, they came away just fine in 5-on-3 hockey. This was something for which Brind’Amour expressed gratitude.
“People saved me from there – appreciate it.”
The third period saw another pair of goals for the Hurricanes as Andrei Svechnikov – who trails only Logan Stankoven in shots on goal on the team this postseason – scored his first goal of the playoffs. Sebastian Aho and Gostisbehere assisted on his power play goal, which was his second goal of the night.
Nikolaj Ehlers also scored soon after, hitting a dagger into the neutral zone. Jordan Martinook also had his second assist of the game, while K’Andre Miller had his fifth assist of the postseason, leading all Hurricane defensemen.
They don’t call them ‘Broad Street Bullies’ for nothing
As expected, the Flyers really started to show their teeth after that final goal. In the final few minutes, Konecny received a two-minute minor penalty for pushing, a two-minute minor penalty for biting and a ten-minute penalty for the same tackle. Eric Robinson also got a few minutes in the box against Konecny.
Even more drama ensued after a whistle blew during the power play that the Hurricanes had earned from that ordeal. Rasmus Ristolainen started pushing on Stankoven, and soon, Nick Seiler came in to fight him. In response, Gostisbehere went after Ristolainen, and promptly worked on him.
The weight classes certainly did not match, with Gostisbehere and Stankoven both weighing under 185 pounds and less than six feet tall, while both of the Flyers’ defensemen were over six feet tall and weighed nearly 200 pounds. This was a topic that was noted during post-game pressers, as a reporter joked about Gostisbehere not being interested in weight classes.
“I guess they don’t either,” he said, laughing. “Just trying to help ‘Stanky’ out. I guess it does, but it is what it is.”
storm notes
The Hurricanes’ incredible 7–0 start to the postseason marks the fifth time on record that they have made it to the postseason, sharing the spot in history with the 1989 Montreal Canadiens (lost Stanley Cup Finals), the 1994 New York Rangers (won Stanley Cup Finals), the 2008 Pittsburgh Penguins (lost Stanley Cup Finals), and the 2024 Rangers (lost Eastern Conference Finals).
After missing Games 1 and 2, Alexander Nikishin returned to the lineup on Tuesday after clearing concussion protocol. The rookie defenseman was injured after a strong hit in Game 4 against the Ottawa Senators.
Taylor Hall’s six-game postseason-opening point streak officially ended Thursday, after failing to register a point on the scoresheet.
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