Svechnikov, Andersen lead Hurricanes past Capitals 4-0 in Game 3 of 2nd-round playoff series

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Andrei Svechnikov pounced on a loose faceoff puck for his sixth postseason goal while Frederik Andersen had 21 saves as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Washington Capitals 4-0 on Saturday night for a 2-1 lead in their second-round playoff series.

Svechnikov sprang into the circle to beat John Carlson to the puck and beat Logan Thompson at 12:34 of the second for the game’s first goal in what turned out to be the start of Carolina’s game-seizing surge.

And Andersen bought time for the Hurricanes to find that groove after a strong start by the Capitals, on the way to posting his first postseason shutout for Carolina and the franchise's first in three years.

“Clearly that was the key to our win tonight, was that first period where clearly they were on their game and we were a little on our heels,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "That's what goaltending does. It keeps us in the game. And then I thought we got to it in that second half of the game.

"But it could've been a lot different if we're chasing it.”

Jack Roslovic added a power-play goal late in the second period for the Hurricanes, while Eric Robinson charged up the left side to beat Thompson early in the third to make it 3-0.

Jackson Blake added a clinching power-play finish near the post late as the Hurricanes improved to 4-0 at home in the playoffs.

“It's pretty obvious when we're not playing it and maybe trying to do something different or do too much," Robinson said. "So yeah, we just got to our game.”

The Hurricanes dominated play in the series opener but needed Jaccob Slavin's overtime goal to push through on the road. The Capitals did a better job of countering in Game 2 and tied the series behind a strong two-way effort from Tom Wilson.

The Capitals seemingly had reversed the script on Carolina with a strong start, which included Andersen having to stand up to an immediate skating-in chance by Wilson and an early shot from Taylor Raddysh while the Hurricanes struggled to get on their aggressive game.

Thompson finished with 24 saves for Washington, while the Capitals managed just 10 shots in the final 39+ minutes.

“Whenever we're playing from behind, it's not a good recipe for our group,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. "Like, we just don't have the firepower that can snap it around, we're going to be able to score five or six goals. It's just not our makeup.

“So once we start to trail, we start to press and then you see some uncharacteristic things. We can't some string some plays together and it gets a little sloppy.”

Game 4 in the best-of-seven series is Monday night in Raleigh.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Washington Capitals' Connor McMichael (24) tries to chip the puck past Carolina Hurricanes' Jalen Chatfield (5) during the first period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Semi-final round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Washington Capitals' Nic Dowd (26) controls the puck in front of Carolina Hurricanes' Jaccob Slavin (74) during the first period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Semi-final round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov, center, celebrates his goal with Sebastian Aho (20) during the second period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Semi-final round playoff series against the Washington Capitals in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Sean Walker (26) clears the puck away from goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) and Washington Capitals' Lars Eller (20) during the first period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Semi-final round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov (37) celebrates his goal against the Washington Capitals during the second period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Semi-final round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A gas cylinder explosion early Sunday after a wedding reception at a home in Pakistan’s capital killed at least eight people, including the bride and groom, police and officials said.

The blast occurred as guests who had gathered to celebrate the couple were sleeping at the house, causing part of the house to collapse, according to the Islamabad police. Seven people were injured.

In a statement, police said the explosion occurred in a residential area in the heart of the city. A government administrator, Sahibzada Yousaf, said authorities were alerted about the blast early Sunday and officers are still investigating. He said some nearby homes were also damaged.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of lives and offered condolences to the victims’ families, according to a statement from his office. He directed health authorities to ensure the injured receive the best possible treatment and ordered a full investigation.

Many Pakistani households rely on liquefied petroleum gas cylinders because of low natural gas pressure, and such cylinders have been linked to deadly accidents caused by gas leaks. Police said investigations were ongoing.

Government officials survey the damage of a home caused by a gas cylinder explosion hours after a wedding reception, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ehsan Shahzad)