RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – The Carolina Hurricanes are a win away from reaching the NHL’s Eastern Conference finals. The Hurricanes own a 3-2 lead in their second-round series following a 3-1 victory over the Rangers. The Canes won with special teams as Vincent Trochek scored short-handed and Teuvo Teravainen added a rare power-play goal for Carolina, which has struggled with the man advantage. Andrei Svechnikov also scored, beating Igor Shesterkin with a backhander on a breakaway midway through the third period. The Hurricanes outshot the Rangers 34-17 and improved to 7-0 at home in the postseason compared to 0-5 outside Raleigh. Shesterkin stopped 31 shots for the Rangers, who host Game 6 on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have carried the Oilers to a 5-4 overtime victory against the Flames and a berth in the Western Conference finals. McDavid provided the series clincher at 5:03 of the extra season, taking a pass from Draisaitl for his seventh goal of the postseason. Draisaitl had four assists and finished with 17 points in the series, scoring at least three points in all five games. McDavid and Draisaitl each have 26 points in the playoffs so far. Zach Hyman had a goal and two assists for the Oilers, who will face either the Avalanche or Blues in the conference finals.