Walker, Svechnikov score late as
Hurricanes push Capitals to brink of elimination in 5-2 win
[May 13, 2025]
By AARON BEARD
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — 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 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.
“If 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 — just the chances we've given up, a little too much here for
me,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said. “But obviously at this
time of year, it's about results. I like where we're at, that's for
sure.”
Walker's score 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
postseason goal.
Svechnikov followed with his seventh postseason 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.
“I think as a whole, we kind of kept our composure,” Walker said.
“Didn't really panic, just stuck to our systems.”
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.
[to top of second column] |
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)
Just as importantly, the Hurricanes twice responded
as the Capitals inched within a goal in the third. Hall's score 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 defense lost
track of him.
Walker's score 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.
“We're giving ourselves some opportunities, we're just not
executing, making the play, whatever you want to call it,”
Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. “And making some mistakes —
and they're capitalizing.”
To that point, the Eastern Conference's top seed got a quick start
after a Game 3 shutout, 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 4-minute
power play, the first 3 1/2 minutes of those coming to close the
first period.
“Their penalty kill is excellent, best in the league, has been for
the last, whatever, five years call it,” Carbery said. “But it can't
look like that. It cannot look like that.”
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