The Carolina Hurricanes are heading to the Eastern Conference final for the second time in three seasons after their 3-1 victory against the Washington Capitals in Game 5 on Thursday night.
The Hurricanes also knocked off the New Jersey Devils in five games in the first round.
Carolina’s smothering defensive style limited Washington’s No. 2-ranked regular-season offense to seven goals in the series — one of them an empty-netter — and fewer than 20 shots a game.
Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen kept the Capitals at bay again Thursday, allowing only Anthony Beauvillier’s first-period goal. He was strong during Washington’s third-period surge before Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov broke the tie at 18:01 of the third period. It was his eighth goal and third game-winner of the playoffs.
An apparent Capitals go-ahead goal in the second period was waved off after a challenge for offsides.
USA TODAY provided live updates of Game 5 between the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals. How the game went:
Hurricanes vs. Capitals highlights
What’s next for the Carolina Hurricanes?
They’ll face the winner of the Florida Panthers-Toronto Maple Leafs series in the conference final. Florida, up 3-2, will try to wrap up that series at home Friday night. Carolina would host Game 1 if Florida advances and start on the road if Toronto comes back. The Panthers swept the Hurricanes in the 2023 Eastern Conference final. Defenseman Jalen Chatfield will have some time to heal after missing Game 5, though Alexander Nikishin acquitted himself well in his NHL debut.
What’s next for the Washington Capitals?
Their summer starts after a spectacular regular season in which Alex Ovechkin became the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, and the team finished with the conference’s best record. Washington also won a playoff series for the first time since 2018. Spencer Carbery is considered a front-runner for coach of the year.
Ovechkin will enter the final year of his contract. A lot of the offseason work is already done with Jakob Chychrun, Logan Thompson, Charlie Lindgren, Nic Dowd and Dylan McIlrath signing contract extensions. Andrew Mangiapane, Lars Eller, Beauvillier and Taylor Raddysh are pending unrestricted free agents. Injured Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie are in the final year of their contracts and can officially retire. Rookie Ryan Leonard will play his first full season in 2025-26.
Hurricanes vs. Capitals Game 5 recap
Final score: Hurricanes 3, Capitals 1
The Hurricanes are heading to the conference final. They have won both their two series in five games. They held the Capitals to seven goals in the series. Andrei Svechnikov breaks the tie with his eighth goal of the playoffs, second best in the league. It’s his league-best third game-winner.
Hurricanes-Capitals score: Seth Jarvis adds empty-netter
Seth Jarvis steals the puck and slides it into the empty net with 33 seconds left. Hurricanes 3, Capitals 1
Hurricanes-Capitals score: Andrei Svechnikov breaks tie
Andrei Svechnikov breaks the tie with 1:59 left in regulation on a give-and-go with Sean Walker. That’s his eighth goal of the playoffs. Hurricanes 2, Capitals 1
Logan Thompson saves
He stops William Carrier in close then keeps out the rebound.
Five minutes left in regulation
Still 1-1. Capitals outshooting Hurricanes 9-3 in this period.
Capitals surging
They have seven shots midway through the third period after totaling nine over the first two periods. Frederik Andersen keeping the game tied.
Frederik Andersen save
Andersen stops Alex Ovechkin and dives onto the puck before the Capitals captain can get a rebound. Ovechkin goes tumbling over the goalie.
Capitals go on power play
After Pierre-Luc Dubois is stopped on a drive to the net, Jordan Martinook knocks over Tom Wilson and is called for charging. Penalty killed. Seth Jarvis gets a good chance as it ends.
Third period underway
Tied 1-1. Hurricanes on the power play for another 19 seconds. And it’s killed off.
Alexander Nikishin stats
The Hurricanes defenseman has played about eight minutes through two periods in his NHL debut. He has two shots, four shot attempts, one penalty, plus a hit, giveaway and takeaway.
End of second period: Capitals 1, Hurricanes 1
Matt Roy looked like he put the Capitals ahead, but the goal was called off because of an offside play well before the score. The Capitals catch a break when Seth Jarvis’ shot hits the crossbar and post right before time expires. Carolina outshoots Washington 8-5 in the period, most of the Hurricanes’ surge happening near the end of the period. The Capitals have only nine shots through two periods.
Hurricanes go on power play
Trevor van Riemsdyk is called for slashing Shayne Gostisbehere. Tom Wilson blocks a Gostisbehere shot. Seth Jarvis hits the crossbar and post after a Hurricanes steal right before the second period ends. Penalty will carry over into the third period.
Alexander Nikishin starts flurry
He steals the puck from Alex Ovechkin and the Hurricanes pin the Capitals in the zone. Nikishin gets off a nice shot during the flurry.
Tom Wilson crunches Seth Jarvis
Jarvis is knocked down along the boards.
Hurricanes go on power play
Anthony Beauvillier called for interference. Hurricanes get one shot as Capitals kill it off.
Capitals go on power play
Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin gets his first NHL penalty as he trips Pierre-Luc Dubois. Alex Ovechkin is spending time at the point instead of his office in the left faceoff circle. Hurricanes kill off the penalty.
Capitals goal taken away
The Capitals have come out strong in this period and Matt Roy beats Frederik Andersen with a slap shot. Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour challenges for offsides and the review shows Connor McMichael entering the zone ahead of the puck earlier in the sequence. No goal. Still tied 1-1.
Second period underway
Score is 1-1.
End of first period: Capitals 1, Hurricanes 1
The Capitals, trying to stave off elimination, scored in the first period for the first time in the series as Anthony Beauvillier took advantage of a bad bounce to tie the game. Logan Thompson didn’t look good on the opening goal by Jordan Staal, but he made up for it with his save on Logan Stankoven, who had a wide-open net. Shots are 8-4 Carolina after the Hurricanes’ late flurry.
Logan Thompson makes great save
Thompson appeared to be out of position after stopping Taylor Hall but he reaches back and gets his stick on Logan Stankoven’s rebound shot.
Hurricanes-Capitals score: Washington ties it up
Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin’s attempted pass off the back boards to his defensive partner takes a bad bounce and ends up next to Frederik Andersen. Anthony Beauvillier picks up the loose puck and ties the game. Hurricanes 1, Capitals 1
Hurricanes-Capitals score: Carolina takes lead
Jordan Staal beats Logan Thompson high glove side from the right faceoff circle after Jordan Martinook wins a battle along the boards. Hurricanes 1, Capitals 0
Capitals go on power play
Dmitry Orlov is called for hooking. Capitals still without a shot in the game. They pick up their first as Alex Ovechkin sets up John Carlson for a shot from the left faceoff circle. But Frederik Andersen makes a save and penalty is killed. Carolina had some short-handed chances.
Game underway
Sebastian Aho line vs. the Aliaksei Protas line.
What time is Hurricanes vs. Capitals Game 5?
Game 5 of the Hurricanes-Capitals series will start at 7 p.m. ET at Washington.
How to watch Hurricanes vs. Capitals playoff game: TV, stream
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Capital One Arena in Washington
TV: TNT, TruTV
Stream: Sling TV, Max
Washington Capitals lines
Carolina Hurricanes lines
Alexander Nikishin making NHL debut
The 6-4 Russian defenseman was taken by Carolina in the third round in the 2020 draft. The 23-year-old had been playing with St. Petersburg SKA in the Kontinental Hockey League. Jalen Chatfield had been banged up recently.
Capitals call up goaltender
The Capitals have recalled goaltender Clay Stevenson from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, but coach Spencer Carbery says No. 1 goalie Logan Thompson is fine. The move was made, Carbery said, because backup Charlie Lindgren is dealing with personal stuff.