Carolina Hurricanes Sweep Ottawa Senators to Advance to NHL Quarterfinals

The Carolina Hurricanes completed a sweep of the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 4-2 victory in Game 4 on April 25, 2026, advancing to the second round as the NHL’s first team to do so that postseason.

Logan Stankoven and Taylor Hall led the Hurricanes’ offense, with Stankoven scoring the go-ahead goal on the power play late in the third period and Hall providing an early lead before Ottawa tied the game. Sebastian Aho added two goals, including an empty-netter to seal the win, while goaltender Frederik Andersen made 25 saves.

The game began scoreless after a quiet first period despite multiple power-play opportunities for both teams. The second period saw increased physicality, including a hit by Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven that knocked out Alexander Nikishin for the remainder of the game. Ottawa Drake Batherson scored the first power-play goal of the series for the Senators just 1:53 after Hall’s opening goal, ending Carolina’s 0-for-17 power-play drought.

Carolina regained the lead when Stankoven capitalized on a rebound after K’Andre Miller’s point shot bounced off the end wall. Ottawa had several chances to respond, including a ninth power-play opportunity that failed to produce a goal. Aho’s empty-net goal with the Senators’ netminder pulled ended Ottawa’s hopes of extending the series.

The sweep marks the second four-game series victory in Carolina Hurricanes franchise history. The team advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals, becoming the first club in the NHL to reach Round 2 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.