Preview: Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Series: Hurricanes vs. Flyers
On Sunday, May 10, the Hurricanes could complete a sweep of the series. Can the Flyers avoid elimination in the second round, trailing 0-3 after a 4-1 home loss?
Main Event
The Carolina Hurricanes are one step away from securing a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals. On Sunday, May 10, Rod Brind'Amour's team will play Game 4 of the second-round Stanley Cup series against the Philadelphia Flyers and has a chance to finish the series with a sweep.
In the previous game, the Hurricanes left no stone unturned against their opponent in Game 3. The match at the Wells Fargo Center in front of 19,970 spectators ended in a convincing 4-1 road victory. The series now stands at 3-0, and the Hurricanes need just one more win to advance to the next round.
Game 4 will be held at the same venue in Philadelphia and starts at 6:00 PM Eastern Time (1:00 AM Moscow time on May 11).
Details and Statistics
A key factor in Carolina's dominance in the series has been special teams play. In Game 3, the team scored two power-play goals and one shorthanded goal. Jordan Staal opened the scoring at the 17-minute mark on the power play, and Jalen Chatfield's shorthanded goal at the 36-minute mark turned the tide definitively, making it 2-1. In the final period, Andrei Svechnikov on the power play (43rd minute) and Nikolaj Ehlers on a breakaway (47th minute) sealed the win.
Hurricanes Russian forward Andrei Svechnikov was named the first star of the game. The 26-year-old forward recorded 2 points (1 goal + 1 assist), scoring his first goal of the current playoffs. In seven games this postseason, he has 3 points (1+2).
Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen stopped 18 of 19 shots, earning his seventh straight playoff win. His counterpart, Daniel Vladař, made 26 saves on 30 shots.
Philadelphia is dealing with significant injury issues. Noah Cates, Rodrigo Abols, and Nikita Grebenkin are out due to injuries. Forward Owen Tippett is day-to-day with an injury. Belarusian goaltender Alexei Kolosov was again not included in the lineup.
Bookmakers unsurprisingly favor Carolina in Game 4. The moneyline for the visitors is -188, while the Flyers are at +156. The over/under is set at 5.5 goals.
Context and Significance
Philadelphia is on the brink of elimination, and to save the series, the Flyers will need to accomplish the nearly impossible. In NHL history, only four teams have come back from a 3-0 series deficit in the playoffs. The most recent such comeback was in 2014, when the Los Angeles Kings rallied in the first round.
Carolina, meanwhile, continues its winning streak. The team has won all seven games of the current playoffs—they swept the Ottawa Senators 4-0 in the first round—and the Hurricanes are now two wins away from a second consecutive sweep of a round.
Notably, the Florida Panthers, winners of the last two Stanley Cups, failed to make the playoffs this season. Thus, the NHL is guaranteed a new champion, and Carolina is considered one of the top contenders.
In the regular season, the Hurricanes earned 113 points and finished first in the Metropolitan Division. Philadelphia finished third with 98 points.
What's Next / Preview of the Next Game
If they win Game 4, the Hurricanes will become the first conference finalist in the Stanley Cup playoffs and gain extra rest before the conference finals. The winner of this series will face the winner of the Buffalo Sabres vs. Tampa Bay Lightning series.
If Philadelphia manages to extend the series, Game 5 will take place on May 11 in Raleigh at the Hurricanes' home arena. Game 6 is scheduled for May 13 in Philadelphia, and Game 7 for May 16, again in Raleigh.
The key question for the upcoming game: Can the Flyers find the resources for a final stand on home ice? The coaching staff must urgently address the power-play issue—in Game 3, the team failed to score on any of its five opportunities, while Carolina played with frightening efficiency on special teams.
For Russian fans, the play of Alexander Nikishin is of particular interest; he returned to the Hurricanes lineup after a concussion sustained in the first round against Ottawa. Flyers defenseman Matvei Michkov will try to end his goal drought and help his team avoid an early end to the season.
— Editorial Team
