(The Score, NHL)
The Carolina Hurricanes have eliminated the Washington Capitals in five games at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. The win secured an eastern conference finals birth for the 3rd time in 7 years. The Hurricanes will now wait for tomorrows result between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers.
The game last night was a tight one like almost all the games before it in this series. The hurricanes jumped out to an early 1-0 lead but the Caps answered back as Anthony Beauviler scored to tie the game up. Nothing much happened after that even going into the late stages of the 3rd it looked like this game was destined for OT.
Carolinas Andrei Svechnikov carried the puck into the boards just before the corner. The time was running out there were less than 3 minutes left, Svechnikov played a harmless shot from a sharp angle which ended up beating a surprised Logan Thompson. Just like that a game which looked poised for OT now looked poised for a Canes series win and a Eastern Conference Finals birth. The Caps pulled the goalie in a desperate attempt to save there season. They had some chances but nothing was concrete as there hopes kept dwindling as the time ticked down, and then it came the final nail in the coffin. Seth Jarvis puts the puck into the empty net sealing the Caps fate and eliminating them from the playoffs. In my prediction before this game i had thought the Caps would do enough and edge out a victory in OT. That did not happen i also said that the Caps needed more production from Tom Wilson that also did not happen. No one stepped up in this series for Washington and you cant expect a 39 year old Alexander Ovechkin to carry this team like he has in the years before this. It is a sad end to a great unexpected season for the Caps.
Freddy Anderson kept up his great play this series saving 18/19 shots this game he had a .947 save percentage in this game, and a .937 save percentage these entire playoffs. If the Hurricanes can finally get pasted the Conference Finals and make it to play for Lord Stanley he will be the main reason why. The Canes have a great shot as we could be headed for a rematch of the 2023 conference finals if Florida advances. The Hurricanes have been swept each times in there most recent Conference Finals appearances they will be looking to change that.