The Carolina Hurricanes have secured their spot in the Eastern Conference finals, beating the Washington Capitals 3-1 in Game 5 on Thursday night. Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Jets extended their season with a crucial 4-0 victory against the Dallas Stars in Game 5.
Andrei Svechnikov found the net for the third consecutive game, a crucial score given Carolina`s difficulties with Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson for much of the contest. Frederik Andersen also delivered a strong performance in goal, stopping 18 of 19 shots. This win sends the Hurricanes to their second Eastern Conference final appearance in the last three seasons.
In the Western Conference bracket, the Jets relied on a standout performance from goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. He stopped all 22 shots he faced, recording his second shutout of the series. Offensively, Nikolaj Ehlers led the way with a pair of goals.
With another night of intense playoff action concluded, here`s a look at the top individual performances from Thursday.
3. Andrei Svechnikov | RW | Hurricanes
Andrei Svechnikov continued to be a key offensive force for the Hurricanes when it mattered most. He netted the go-ahead goal in their 3-1 series-clinching victory. This made him only the fourth player in Hurricanes (or former Hartford Whalers) history to score a game-winning goal in the final two minutes of a playoff regulation game.
Late in the game, defenseman Sean Walker initiated a rush, exchanged passes with Svechnikov, and then returned the puck to him. Svechnikov managed to score from a difficult angle at the bottom of the face-off circle.
In a series characterized by limited scoring opportunities, Svechnikov consistently delivered when Carolina needed offense. His game-winning tally was his eighth goal of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, placing him second only to Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen, who has nine. Svechnikov will be a crucial player for the Hurricanes when they face the winner of the Florida Panthers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs series in the next round.
2. Connor Hellebuyck | G | Jets
Connor Hellebuyck`s postseason has seen some variability, but he rose to the occasion when his team desperately needed him. By stopping all 22 shots, Hellebuyck played a pivotal role in keeping Winnipeg`s season alive on Thursday.
Hellebuyck made a series of crucial saves that prevented the Stars from generating offense. Early in the second period, he made a sensational glove save on a backhanded shot attempt by Thomas Harley, set up by Matt Duchene. Perhaps his most impactful play was a perfectly-timed poke check later in the second, denying a cutting Wyatt Johnston (who received a great pass from Mikko Rantanen) in front of the net. This defensive play immediately transitioned into offense for Winnipeg, leading to a goal by Mark Scheifele.
After allowing a total of eight goals in the previous two games, Hellebuyck was impenetrable in Game 5. He had previously recorded a shutout in Game 2 of the series. While the reigning Vezina Trophy winner`s overall playoff performance might not have been consistently elite, he delivered his best effort when it mattered most to extend Winnipeg`s season.
1. Nikolaj Ehlers | LW | Jets
Having missed most of the opening round, Nikolaj Ehlers is proving how essential he is to Winnipeg`s offensive attack. In Thursday`s game, he scored two goals on five shots and also recorded a takeaway.
With the Jets on a five-on-three power play early in the third period, Ehlers provided crucial insurance. Mark Scheifele passed cross-ice to Kyle Connor, who spotted a wide-open Ehlers near the net. Ehlers skated in and successfully slid the puck past Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger. This was Ehlers` fifth goal in four games, and he later added an empty-net goal. Now with five goals in the series, Ehlers continues to be a driving force for the Jets` offense.
