RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Lenovo Center was rocking throughout Game 4 as the Hurricanes knocked off the Capitals 5-2 in Game 4 to carry a commanding 3-1 lead into Washington.
“I cannot describe the feeling that we have tonight. I mean this is amazing,” said Jeff Phillips.
The win brings the Canes within one win of making its second Eastern Conference Final appearance in two years, and keeps the team a perfect 5-0 at home so far this postseason.
“After getting that first goal — I think everyone thought that first goal was going to be the thing that made everything happen — and we got the first goal, and from that point on, it was like we’re just plugging along and just doing everything we had to do,” said Phillips.
The Canes will now have three opportunities to knock off the Capitals, who finished the regular season as the best team in the Eastern Conference.
“This is what it’s all about. Hockey is a real thing, it’s here to say, this is us, this is family, community that’s been built that we can’t change,” said Alex Walser.
If Washington is able to win in front of its home crowd on Thursday, the series will shift back to Raleigh for Game 6 at Lenovo Center on Saturday.
The winner of this series will take on either the Toronto Maple Leafs or the defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers. That series is currently even at two games apiece.
If both Carolina and Florida advance, it would set up a rematch of the 2023 Eastern Conference Final, when Florida swept the Canes before losing in the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final.