The Carolina Hurricanes ousted the Washington Capitals from the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, with forward Andrei Svechnikov’s improbably late third-period goal ending up being the difference.
With one minute and 59 seconds remaining in a 1-1 game, Svechnikov ripped the go-ahead goal from an unorthodox angle, shooting from outside the left face-off circle while drifting toward the goal line.
It somehow cleared past two Capitals defenders and goalie Logan Thompson before finding the net, giving Carolina a 2-1 lead.
The Hurricanes added an empty-net goal a minute later to win, 3-1, and close out the East semifinals in five games. They’re on to their second Eastern Conference Final in three seasons and sixth in franchise history.
Carolina is 8-2 this postseason, also defeating the New Jersey Devils in five.
Per ESPNBet, the Hurricanes (+275) have the best odds among Eastern Conference teams to win the Stanley Cup. They’ve looked the part these playoffs, averaging 3.4 goals while allowing 1.8 per game.
Svechnikov has eight goals during the postseason, the second-most among all players, only trailing Stars forward Mikko Rantanen (nine).
Goalie Frederik Andersen entered Thursday with the highest save percentage among goalies during the Stanley Cup playoffs (93.5 percent), and he improved his numbers with 18 saves in 19 opportunities (94.7 percent) in Carolina’s Game 5 win.
The Hurricanes have all the pieces to be the last team standing. With Svechnikov also making circus shots, it might just be their year.
