Jackson Blake found the back of the net 5 minutes and 31 seconds into overtime Saturday night, lifting the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
The 22-year-old forward received a pass from Taylor Hall and fired a wrist shot that deflected off Flyers netminder Dan Vladar’s left shoulder before crossing the goal line. With the victory, Carolina achieved their second consecutive playoff series sweep and matched a historic feat not accomplished since the 1985 Edmonton Oilers – winning their first eight postseason contests.
“We’re getting some huge performances, but everybody is doing it,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “That’s how we have to get it done and, go down the list, every guy has had his hands in these two series wins.”
Carolina now moves on to the Eastern Conference finals, where they will have an extended rest period while waiting to learn their opponent. The Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens remain deadlocked at one game apiece in their series, with Game 3 scheduled for Sunday in Montreal.
“There’s positives and negatives to it,” Hall said of the long layoff between rounds. “The big positive is we’re on to the third round relatively unscathed and healthy.”
Blake contributed two points in the opening frame and set up Logan Stankoven’s third-period tally. Hall recorded assists on all three Carolina goals, while Frederik Andersen turned aside 15 shots for the Hurricanes.
“We are playing well and it’s great to get the sweeps, but I think we do have another level to get to,” Stankoven said. “I’m sure if you asked any of the guys, they would agree with me.”
Philadelphia received goals from Tyson Foerster and Alex Bump, with Vladar stopping 37 shots in the losing effort. The Flyers managed just one power-play goal in 19 opportunities throughout the four-game series.
“We squeezed as much juice from this team. I can’t ask for more,” Philadelphia coach Rick Tocchet said. “We hung in there. That’s a good hockey team over there. They roll four lines, they were flying.”
Foerster opened the scoring with his first playoff goal at the 7:50 mark of the initial period, giving Philadelphia an early 1-0 advantage.
Porter Martone sent a pass up ice to Trevor Zegras, who used his speed advantage as both players entered the Carolina zone. Zegras positioned himself along the boards and delivered a pass through the slot to Foerster, who moved to the right hash marks before beating Andersen with a wrist shot.
Blake evened the score at 12:35 of the second period when his shot from above the right faceoff circle struck Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale in the midsection as he battled Stankoven near the crease, deflecting the puck into Philadelphia’s own net.
Carolina thought they had taken the lead when Mark Jankowski scored at 13:03 of the second period, but Philadelphia successfully challenged for goaltender interference on William Carrier, who had made contact with Oliver Bonk in the crease area.
Hall set up Stankoven during a 3-on-2 rush in the third period, with Stankoven redirecting the pass home for his postseason-leading seventh goal at 4:13, putting Carolina ahead 2-1.
Philadelphia responded quickly when Travis Konecny created a turnover behind the Carolina net and found Bump in front, who fired a one-timer from the slot area to tie the game at 5:52.
“Bumper, he makes a mistake on the second goal, he gets the tying goal,” Tocchet said. “He gets right back out there. That’s the stuff you want to see. He’s not on the bench sulking. He knew he made the mistake. He goes out there and, bang, it’s in the net. That’s the growth you like to see.”
