Blake scores in OT, Hurricanes complete sweep of Flyers in East 2nd Round

With just 10 total goals allowed across eight postseason games, the Hurricanes are off to the Eastern Conference Final for the second straight season and the third time in four. “Us as a line, we want to get to our game and play in their end, forecheck. We know that the strengths of our game, as a team and as a line, is forechecking, disruption and we got to that in the second period.” Two tipped goals and one at the end there that’s just a great shot by a great player. Mackenzie Blackwood allowed three goals on 13 shots before being replaced at the start of the second period by Wedgewood, who stopped all seven shots in relief. Hughes became the first defenseman in Wild history to score a series-clinching goal.

Blake broke the puck out of the Flyers zone and slid it to Hall, who hit a streaking Stankoven for the wrist shot. “In the first intermission, we knew that wasn’t the greatest first period for us,” Hall said. “I think it was tighter than a 4-0 series,” Flyers captain Sean Couturier said. Tyson Foerster and Alex Bump each scored, and Vladar made 37 saves for Philadelphia, the No. 3 seed out of the Metropolitan. Carolina will advance to the Eastern Conference Final and is the fifth team in NHL history to have an 8-0 start to the postseason.

“Tonight, (Drury) getting us back in it, and (Kelly), so yeah, they scored twice. I think they play a huge role for us,” MacKinnon said. Drury won the face-off at the left dot and stationed himself in front of the net, battling until the shot came his way.

• These guys are the best, (they’re) Presidents’ Trophy (winners).”
• “I think we could have played better (in the first), but it was only 1-0 and I think we played better in the second, got some momentum. You got to give credit to them. They didn’t give us a lot of chances, especially in front of the net.”
• He collected a return pass from Marcus Foligno, drifted through the slot and fired a wrist shot top shelf over the glove of Oettinger.
• … Hughes (15 points in 11 games) became the second fastest American defenseman in NHL history to 15 points in a postseason behind Brian Leetch (nine games in 1994).
• With just 10 total goals allowed across eight postseason games, the Hurricanes are off to the Eastern Conference Final for the second straight season and the third time in four.
• “I mean, they’re such a pleasure to coach. The way they went through the series, I think just learning lessons, and trying to get better and stronger. Tonight was another example of that.

… MacKinnon has scored a goal in 46.2 percent of his career playoff games (48 of 104 games), which ties Craig Simpson (31 of 67 games; 46.2 percent) for the third-highest rate in NHL history. Check out all of the playoff goals scored on Monday night “That’s a heck of a team and they played really well. I thought tonight was a pretty even game. I mean, they had the first period, we had the second, the third was a toss-up and they just got the last bounce off a skate … it kind of summed up the series.” Foerster was the 16th Flyers player to score during the playoffs, matching 1987 for the most through Philadelphia’s first 10 games of a postseason. Andersen is the fourth goalie in NHL history to allow two goals or fewer in each of his first eight starts of the playoffs, and the first since Jacques Plante with the St. Louis Blues in 1969. … The Avalanche became the fifth team in NHL history to earn a series-clinching win after facing a multigoal deficit in the final five minutes of regulation.

All of Thursday’s playoff goals

“I think we played a good series. This is a new team. We write our own story. Every team has their own ups and downs. We knew we were the better team, we just had to go prove it, and that’s what we did. “We knew they were going to push hard (in the first period). It’s their home rink and they want to end the series,” Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen said. The Wild’s last series triumph came against the St. Louis Blues in the 2015 Western Conference First Round, when they clinched the series in six games. ST. PAUL, Minn. — Quinn Hughes had two goals and an assist, and the Minnesota Wild eliminated the Dallas Stars with a 5-2 win in Game 6 of the Western Conference First Round at Grand Casino Arena on Thursday.

Stanley Cup Playoffs 2nd round results

“I think we could have played better (in the first), but it was only 1-0 and I think we played better in the second, got some momentum. You got to give credit to them. They didn’t give us a lot of chances, especially in front of the net.” Taking advantage of a crazy carom off the end boards, Bourque got the puck at the right post and moved it into the slot before putting it past Wallstedt’s back side with a wrist shot. He collected a return pass from Marcus Foligno, drifted through the slot and fired a wrist shot top shelf over the glove of Oettinger. “We played hard, but it felt like every time we made a mistake, it ended up in our net, and I think it wasn’t for a lack of trying to score, it’s just that we didn’t get the bounces that we needed,” Dallas forward Matt Duchene said. Wyatt Johnston and Mavrik Bourque each scored, and Oettinger made 16 saves for the Stars, the No. 2 seed in the Central Division.

“I mean, they’re such a pleasure to coach. The way they went through the series, I think just learning lessons, and trying to get better and stronger. Tonight was another example of that. In the past 30 years the only team League-wide with more are the 2025 Panthers (17). “‘Bumper,’ he makes the mistake on the second goal, then he gets the tying goal,” Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said. Travis Konecny’s hard forecheck knocked Hurricanes defenseman K’Andre Miller off the puck behind the Carolina net.

Hurricanes aim to change fortunes in Eastern Final after sweep of Flyers

These guys are the best, (they’re) Presidents’ Trophy (winners).” It just felt like we had a really good team, and you get through these guys, you never know, but if we had to lose it, you want to lose to these guys. That’s the character of our group, so not too much of a surprise there,” Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes said. One is you’re going to win, which is a great feeling, and when you lose, it’s an empty feeling,” Hynes said. Nick Foligno scored twice and Marcus Johansson also scored for the Wild, the No. 3 seed from the Central. “I think now (I’ll) pay closer attention to that (series).

“It wasn’t everyone’s best game, that’s for sure, but that’s what a team’s all about. Parker Kelly scored a goal and had an assist, and Necas and Brent Burns each had two assists for the Avalanche, the No. 1 seed from the Central Division and the Western Conference. Just keep an eye on both those teams and see how that series goes.” Minnesota blew a three-goal, first-period lead. That’s a good team over there, so for us to play the way we did and get the job done (is great). The player I am, I’m not the guy everyone’s looking down the bench like, ‘Alright, get out there and go win it for us,’” Kulak said.

Sturm made a desperation play, diving to knock his own rebound across the crease to Foligno, who was wide open for the snap shot. I feel like they outplayed us most of the series, which that’s just how it is, that’s just plain and simple. Video review determined McCarron played the puck with his hand and the goal was overturned. Boldy made a move to shake off Colorado forward Brock Nelson in the left corner before sending a backhand pass to Johansson from dbbet below the goal line for the play. Johansson scored to make it 1-0 Minnesota 34 seconds into the first period with a one-timer from the left circle that beat Blackwood’s glove far side.