Carolina Hurricanes Sweep Philadelphia Flyers to Reach Finals

The Carolina Hurricanes have advanced to the Eastern Conference Final of the NHL playoffs after completing a four-game sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers. The Hurricanes secured their place in the final with a 3-2 overtime victory on May 9, 2026, at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Jackson Blake scored the game-winning goal at 5:31 of the overtime period. The goal occurred after Blake received a pass from Taylor Hall in the slot and fired a wrist shot that bounced off the glove of Philadelphia goaltender Dan Vladar and crossed the goal line.

With the victory, the Hurricanes became the fifth team in NHL history to achieve an 8-0 start to a postseason.

The Philadelphia Flyers nearly avoided the sweep in the third period. Alex Bump scored with 14:08 remaining in the final frame to tie the game at 2-2, forcing the contest into overtime.

Carolina’s performance was anchored by goaltender Frederik Andersen, who made 15 saves. Andersen is the fourth goaltender in NHL history to allow two goals or fewer in each of his first eight starts of a playoff run, and the first to do so since Jacques Plante with the St. Louis Blues in 1969.

Jackson Blake finished the game with two goals and one assist, while Taylor Hall contributed three assists.

Team and Player Reactions

Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour attributed the success of the first two series wins to collective effort across the roster.

“How we’ve gone about it, we’re getting some huge performances,” Brind’Amour said. “Everybody is doing it. It’s how we have to get it done. Go down the list, every guy had his hand in these two series wins.”

Blake credited the contributions of teammates Jaccob Slavin and Logan Stankoven in the buildup to the winning goal.

“A lot went down on that goal,” Blake said. “‘Slavvo’ (Jaccob Slavin) makes an unbelievable play, and then ‘Stanks’ (Logan Stankoven) middle line drives and pushes those (defensemen) back, and ‘Hallsy’ makes a play that not a lot of people can make there. Fortunately got the bounce and it went in.”

Taylor Hall highlighted the composure of Andersen in goal throughout the postseason.

“He’s so calm and you’re almost just expecting it every night, and that’s unfair to him,” Hall said. “He forces them to almost make the perfect shot or make the perfect play to score on him.”

The Carolina Hurricanes entered the series as the No. 1 seed from the Metropolitan Division.