Carolina Hurricanes make history with Game 4 overtime win over Flyers
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Carolina Hurricanes completed a four-game sweep of the Flyers with an overtime win.
- Jackson Blake scored the overtime winner at 5:28 after receiving a pass from Taylor Hall.
- The Hurricanes started the playoffs 8-0, the first team to do so since Edmonton in 1985.
Eight up and eight down.
The Carolina Hurricanes have taken the fastest route possible to the Eastern Conference final in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.
The question now: Can the Canes take the next step?
With a 3-2 overtime victory Saturday over the Philadelphia Flyers, the Canes moved into the Eastern Conference Final for the second consecutive season, and third time in four years.
Jackson Blake’s goal at 5:28 of overtime, the winger’s second of the game, created a madcap celebration on the ice at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia before the perfunctory handshake line for the two teams.
After sweeping the Ottawa Senators in the opening round, the Canes again got the job done in short order against the Flyers to make it eight straight wins in the playoffs. The Hurricanes are the first team since Edmonton in 1985 to start the Stanley Cup playoffs with eight straight wins, and are the first team to sweep two best-of-seven series to open the postseason. (Edmonton swept a best-of-5 series to open its run.)
The Canes will face the winner of the Buffalo-Montreal series in the conference final, and again should have a sizable break before playing again, allowing time for rest, healing and some practice sessions to try and stay sharp.
Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour was the captain of Carolina’s 2006 Stanley Cup champions and now badly wants a Cup for this year’s team, and for the franchise.
Asked about winning Saturday, and how the series was won, Brind’Amour said, “Those guys are having the time of their life right now.”
Brind’Amour was talking about the Logan Stankoven line, which has consistently come up with scintillating goals and big plays in the eight games. Blake and Stankoven each scored in regulation Saturday with Taylor Hall contributing assists on both.
Blake in right place, right time
On the game winner, Canes defenseman Jaccob Slavin made a play in the neutral zone to get the puck to Hall along the left boards. With Stankoven driving the middle, Hall passed to Blake, who found a spot to shoot from the top of the slot.
Flyers goalie Dan Vladar, who played well in defeat in the series, got a piece of the puck with his glove, but it bounded over his shoulder and into the net.
As for his celebration, a smiling Blake said, “I blacked out on it.”
“No, once I saw it go in, it’s just excitement,” he said. “I was just happy we got the win and can go home and get the rest.”
For the eighth straight game, Frederik Andersen was in net for the Hurricanes. The veteran again made the critical saves when needed, allowing a first-period goal to Tyson Foerster and third-period score by rookie Alex Bump but denying the Flyers on other high-quality chances.
“He’s so calm and you’re almost expecting it every night now,” Hall said. “He forces them to almost make the perfect shot or make the perfect play to score.”
Stankoven’s goal, his seventh of the playoffs, gave the Canes a 2-1 lead four minutes into the third period. The Canes had one goal — by center Mark Jankowski — overturned on review in the second period because of goaltender interference, but Stankoven ripped a shot past Vladar on the rush.
The Flyers countered quickly. Travis Konecny forced a turnover behind the Canes net, then made a crisp pass to Bump in the low slot for the tying goal.
The Canes, who beat the Flyers in overtime in Game 2 on a Hall goal, kept the puck in the Flyers’ zone much of the OT on Saturday. Then, Blake delivered with his fourth goal of the playoffs.
“That line in general has scored some pretty special goals,” Brind’Amour said “It’s been fun to sit back there and watch it.”
For Canes, another chance
What hasn’t been fun for the Hurricanes have been trips to the Eastern Conference final. Since winning the Cup in 2006, the Canes have reached the conference final four times — in 2009, 2019, 2023 and 2025 — and fallen short each time.
The Florida Panthers ousted the Canes the past two times. Carolina’s win in Game 4 a year ago, in Florida, was its first in the conference final since beating the Sabres in 2006 on its way to the Cup.
The Canes talked Saturday of having to raise their play another notch for the next round. It takes 16 wins to claim the Cup and the last eight are the toughest, but they’re back in hockey’s final four again.
“It’s a high accomplishment,” Brind’Amour said. “This team has played well for eight months. They didn’t just get hot at the end. It’s been night-in and night-out like this. That’s what I’m most proud of from the group.
“And now, here we are. We’ve got to find a way to get that next step. Obviously, that’s easier said than done. But one thing I know is they’re going to give that same effort.”
Of note: Walker a new father
Canes defenseman Sean Walker had to hustle Saturday. Walker was in Raleigh with his wife, Taylor, for the birth of their first child. Walker then flew to Philadelphia for Game 4.
This story was originally published May 9, 2026 at 9:37 PM with the headline "Carolina Hurricanes make history with Game 4 overtime win over Flyers."
