RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN/AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes defended home ice once again as they topped the Washington Capitals 5-2 Monday night in front of another raucous Lenovo Center crowd.
The Canes now have a commanding 3-1 lead in the second round Stanley Cup playoff series.
The home team struck first with a Shayne Gostisbehere goal just over halfway through the first period. Then, with barely a minute gone in the second period, Seth Jarvis scored to make it 2-0 Hurricanes, a score that would stand going into the final period.
But unlike Saturday night, the Capitals wouldn’t be denied a goal. A little over five minutes into the third period, Jakob Chychrun netted one for Washington’s first goal since Game 2 of the series. But less than four minutes later, the Canes got it back as Taylor Hall scored to make it 3-1.
That was just the beginning of the scoring in the period, however. At the 12:14 mark of the third period, Alex Ovechkin scored his fifth goal of the postseason to bring the Capitals back within a goal. But two more Hurricanes goals in quick succession — one by Sean Walker at the 16:45 mark and another by Andrei Svechnikov at the 17:39 mark of the third period — sealed the game.
The series shifts back to Washington at Capital One Arena for Game 5 on Thursday, with the Eastern Conference’s top seed working to stave off elimination and the Hurricanes aiming for a second trip to the conference final in three seasons.
The Associated Press contributed to this report