NHL: Dominant Hurricanes blow past Flyers to take 3-0 series lead

Jordan Staal and Andrei Svechnikov each recorded a goal and an assist on Thursday as the visiting Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1, taking a commanding 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference second-round series.

Frederik Andersen stopped 18 shots, while Jalen Chatfield scored the go-ahead goal for Carolina, which improved to 7-0 this postseason. The Hurricanes will have a chance to complete the sweep when the series resumes in Philadelphia for Game 4 on Saturday.

“It’s been obviously a great start to the series. We’ve played the way we want to play,” Staal said. “It’s part of our whole identity as a group, and we want to continue to build on that.”

Nikolaj Ehlers also scored for the Hurricanes, while Jordan Martinook and Shayne Gostisbehere each contributed two assists.

Philadelphia, which upset the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round, has struggled to keep pace with Carolina. Dan Vladar made 26 saves, and Trevor Zegras scored the Flyers’ lone goal. Philadelphia went 0-for-5 on the power play and conceded two power-play goals along with a short-handed score.

“We took nine penalties. Five-on-five, we were good. I thought we were the better team. But the power plays and penalties,” Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said. “Two games in a row, it was a penalty fest. We’re not equipped for that.”

With the game tied 1-1 late in the second period, the Flyers began a power play after an offensive-zone faceoff. However, it was Carolina that capitalized just 11 seconds later. Martinook made a diving play to spark a 2-on-1 break, and Staal set up Chatfield for a one-timer that beat Vladar under the crossbar.

Philadelphia failed to convert on the ensuing power play, despite holding a two-man advantage for more than a minute.

The Hurricanes extended their lead with two third-period goals. Svechnikov scored on a 4-on-3 power play with a one-timer, and Ehlers added a breakaway goal with a wrist shot.

The Flyers had several strong early chances against Andersen in the first period. Travis Konecny slipped behind the defense but hit the post, while Porter Martone rang a shot off the crossbar minutes later. Martone later set up Alex Bump on a 2-on-0 opportunity, but Andersen made the save. Rasmus Ristolainen also nearly scored when his shot trickled past Andersen before Jaccob Slavin cleared it off the line.

Despite Philadelphia’s pressure, Carolina struck first. Svechnikov fired a shot that deflected off the boards and back in front, where Staal knocked it past Vladar for a 1-0 lead.

“If you want to see how we’re supposed to play, that’s the model right there,” Andersen said of Staal. “As the captain, you’ve got to be reliable and be a calm presence in the room. That’s where he’s underrated.”

Carolina led 1-0 after the first period, but Philadelphia tied the game early in the second when Zegras scored from the right circle to make it 1-1.

The game became increasingly physical in the third period, with 36 of the game’s 58 penalty minutes assessed in the final frame. That included a game misconduct for Konecny with 2:19 remaining and a flurry of penalties in the closing minutes as the outcome was already decided.

— Field Level Media / Reuters