Blake's overtime goal lifts the Hurricanes 3-2 over the Flyers for their second playoff series sweep

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jackson Blake scored 5:28 into overtime for his second of the game, Logan Stankoven also scored in regulation and the Carolina Hurricanes finished a four-game sweep with a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight season.

Frederik Andersen made 15 saves for Carolina, which has not lost in eight playoff games.

Alex Bump and Tyson Foerster scored for the Flyers.

Taylor Hall and Jaccob Slavin assisted the winning goal. Blake's shot from the slot bounced off Dan Vladar's glove and over the goal line.

“Once I saw it go in, just excitement,” Blake said.

Vladar stopped 37 shots for Philadelphia.

Carolina will play the winner of Buffalo and Montreal in the Eastern Conference finals after the NHL’s first 8-0 start in the playoffs since 1985.

“Everyone is chipping in; everyone is doing their job,” Hall said.

Andersen has started every game in the postseason, winning them all.

“He's just playing lights out,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said.

The Hurricanes, who reached the Eastern Conference finals for the third time in four years, are looking for their first Stanley Cup since 2006. Carolina is the 24th team in league history to win eight or more consecutive games during a playoff run. Eighteen of them have won the Stanley Cup.

“For me, it's just fun to sit back there and watch it, to be honest,” Brind'Amour said.

Philadelphia scored just five goals over the four games. After an unlikely berth in the playoffs, fans saluted the home team when it was over with chants of, “Let's go, Flyers!”

“I can't ask for more,” Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said.

Bump scored 5:52 into the third period to tie the game at 2-2.

Stankoven’s seventh tally of the playoffs 4:13 into the third period gave Carolina a 2-1 lead after he finished a beautiful cross-ice pass from Hall with a one-timer from just outside of the crease. Philadelphia evened the score 1:39 later when Bump shot past Andersen’s glove side from the slot after a setup from Travis Konecny from behind the net.

Blake tied it at 1-1 with 7:25 remaining in the second when his wrist shot from along the boards caromed off Philadelphia defenseman Jamie Drysdale and past Vladar. It appeared as if Carolina went in front just 28 seconds later when Mark Jankowski beat Vladar, but the goal was overturned following a challenge by Tocchet when officials ruled that Carolina’s William Carrier interfered with Vladar.

The Flyers had a pair of good chances late in the period to take the lead but could not convert. The best opportunity came in the final seconds of the period when Christian Dvorak’s wrist shot from close range went off the post on Andersen’s glove side.

Carolina finished regulation with a 36-15 advantage in shots.

Russian winger Matvei Michkov was a healthy scratch for the Flyers. Michkov, 23, was the No. 7 overall pick in 2023 by Philadelphia and was heralded as an important piece for the rebuilding franchise’s future. But the right wing has struggled thus far in his first playoff experience, garnering one point while accumulating a minus-3 in eight games. It is the second time he has been a healthy scratch this postseason, following Game 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round.

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Philadelphia Flyers' Sean Couturier, right, and Carolina Hurricanes' Sean Walker meet after Game 4 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Carolina Hurricanes' Jackson Blake, left, scores the game-winning goal past Philadelphia Flyers' Dan Vladar (80) and Rasmus Ristolainen (55) in overtime during Game 4 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Carolina Hurricanes' Jackson Blake (53), Nikolaj Ehlers (27) and Frederik Andersen (31) celebrate after Blake's game-winning goal in overtime during Game 4 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Carolina Hurricanes' Jackson Blake reacts after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime during Game 4 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Flyers' Dan Vladar, right, cannot stop a goal by Carolina Hurricanes' Jackson Blake (not shown) as Flyers' Jamie Drysdale (9) and Hurricanes' Logan Stankoven, left, look on during the second period of Game 4 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Flyers' Alex Bump, left, celebrates past Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Martinook, center, and Sean Walker, right, after scoring a goal during the third period of Game 4 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Carolina Hurricanes' William Carrier, left, tries to get past Philadelphia Flyers' Oliver Bonk, right, during the third period of Game 4 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

ARROYO GRANDE, Calif. (AP) — Authorities did not find the remains of Kristin Smart, a 19-year-old college student who went missing in 1996, officials said Saturday after finishing a search of a home tied to the man convicted of killing her.

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office said it completed a search of Susan Flores' property in the Central Coast town of Arroyo Grande, more than 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles. Paul Flores, her son, was convicted in 2022 of killing Smart, whose body has never been found.

Authorities declined to provide additional information. Authorities said this week that evidence suggested human remains were present at the home and scientists specializing in human decomposition and soil took samples from the ground.

“The Sheriff’s Office remains fully committed to finding Kristin and bringing her home to her family,” the agency said in a statement.

Smart went missing from California Polytechnic State University in May 1996. Prosecutors alleged that she was killed during an attempted rape and that the last person she was seen with was Paul Flores, a fellow student. She was declared legally dead in 2002.

Flores was convicted in October 2022 of Smart’s murder and sentenced the following year to 25 years to life.

The decades-old case has captivated the public, fueled in part by a podcaster who helped investigators by bringing forward additional witnesses. Chris Lambert of the “ Your Own Backyard ” podcast first reported the search of the home.

Scientists take samples from the soil Thursday, May 7, 2026, from the front yard of a home in Arroyo Grande, Calif., connected to the man convicted of killing Kristin Smart as part of a sheriff's investigation. (AP Photo/Haven Daley) CORRECTION: Corrects from authorities to scientists

Scientists take samples from the soil Thursday, May 7, 2026, from the neighboring yard of a home in Arroyo Grande, Calif., connected to the man convicted of killing Kristin Smart as part of a sheriff's investigation. (AP Photo/Haven Daley) CORRECTION: Corrects from authorities to scientists

Scientists take samples from the soil Thursday, May 7, 2026, from the neighboring yard of a home in Arroyo Grande, Calif., connected to the man convicted of killing Kristin Smart as part of a sheriff's investigation. (AP Photo/Haven Daley) CORRECTION: Corrects from authorities to scientists