Rachel Barkley
The Carolina Hurricanes won Game 3 against the Philadelphia Flyers decisively, but it wasn’t without its own level of mayhem.
Thursday night, the Hurricanes handed the Flyers a crushing 4-1 loss as they clutched onto the 3-0 series lead. It was the first game in front of the Philly crowd since April 29th, when the Flyers took Round One in Game 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime.
Carolina was the first team on the board as Jordan Staal found the back of the net on the power play late in the first period. It was his first goal of the postseason, and a marvelous one as he jammed it across the goal line on the backhand. Both Andrei Svechnikov and Shayne Gostisbehere assisted him.
Soon came the second period, and early in the frame, Jackson Blake took a delayed penalty against Cam York for what had appeared to be high-sticking. However, the Flyers never truly went on the power play, as Trevor Zegras scored soon after.
Later in the same frame, Taylor Hall landed a hit on a falling Travis Sanheim, putting him into the boards. The play was initially called for a five-minute major, but after review, it was reduced to a two-minute minor for boarding.
Just 11 seconds later, Jordan Staal and Jalen Chatfield teamed up on the penalty kill as they rushed down the ice – Staal sending a daring pass to Chatfield through the legs of Zegras, as the Hurricanes defenseman snapped a one-timer top shelf, returning them to the top of the scoreboard once more. Jordan Martinook was credited with a helper in the process.
Penalty Madness at the Midway Point
As the penalty kill resumed, Seth Jarvis found himself with a shorthanded chance, but was held back by Jamie Drysdale – a move which should have been the end of the Flyers’ power play…except it didn’t.
After the whistle, Travis Konecny began shoving and yanking at Jarvis, and even put a cross-check on him. In retaliation, Jarvis swung his twig and caught him in the face. He was swiftly sent to the penalty box alongside Drysdale, as if nothing had ever happened – play remaining 5-on-4 in the Flyers’ favor.
…But even that wasn’t the end of it.
Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour was notably unhappy with the lack of a call against Konecny. The referee, Garrett Rank, had had enough of it and quickly whistled him for a bench minor due to unsportsmanlike conduct.
“Usually get a warning,” Brind’Amour said after the game. “I didn’t get a warning. But I was a little frustrated on that sequence because of what happened. They had the original (penalty), and then I don’t know how we just come up with one (drawn penalty). That was a frustration.”
Luckily for the Hurricanes, they survived 5-on-3 hockey just fine. It was something Brind’Amour expressed gratitude for.
“The guys bailed me out there – appreciate it.”
The third period saw another pair of goals for the Hurricanes as Andrei Svechnikov – who is behind only Logan Stankoven in shots on goal on the team this postseason – notched his first goal of the playoffs. His power play goal was assisted by Sebastian Aho and Gostisbehere, his second of the night.
Nikolaj Ehlers also scored soon after, delivering the dagger as he broke away in the neutral zone. Jordan Martinook also got his second assist of the game, while K’Andre Miller got his fifth assist of the postseason, leading all Hurricanes defenseman.
They Don’t Call Them the ‘Broad Street Bullies’ for Nothin’
As expected, the Flyers began to truly show their teeth after that final goal. In the last few minutes, Konecny acquired a two-minute minor for roughing, a two-minute minor for slashing, and a ten-minute misconduct in the same altercation. Eric Robinson also took a couple minutes in the box for roughing against Konecny.
During the power play the Hurricanes had acquired from that ordeal, even more drama broke out after a whistle. Rasmus Ristolainen began shoving at Stankoven, and soon enough, Nick Seeler came in to fight him instead. In response, Gostisbehere went after Ristolainen, making quick work of him.
The weight classes certainly did not match up, with both Gostisbehere and Stankoven weighing in under 185 pounds and less than six feet tall, while both of the Flyers’ defensemen were well over six feet tall and weighing roughly 200 pounds. It was a topic that was noted during the postgame pressers, as one reporter joked about Gostisbehere not being interested in weight classes.
“I guess they aren’t either,” he said with a laugh. “Just trying to help ‘Stanky’ out. It happens, I guess, but it is what it is.”
Hurricanes Notes
The Hurricanes’ incredible 7-0 start to the postseason is just the fifth time on record it has happened, sharing the spot in history with the 1989 Montreal Canadiens (lost Stanley Cup Final), 1994 New York Rangers (won Stanley Cup Final), 2008 Pittsburgh Penguins (lost Stanley Cup Final), and the 2024 Rangers (lost Eastern Conference Final).
After missing Games 1 and 2, Alexander Nikishin made his return to the lineup after clearing concussion protocol Tuesday. The Rookie defenseman was injured in Game 4 against the Ottawa Senators after taking a hard hit.
Taylor Hall’s six-game postseason-opening point streak officially ended Thursday, after he failed to register a point on the scoresheet.
