Hurricanes beat the Canadiens 4-0 to move within a victory of the Stanley Cup Final

MONTREAL (AP) — Sebastian Aho, Jordan Staal and Logan Stankoven scored in a 2:47 span late in the first period and the Carolina Hurricanes moved within a victory of the Stanley Cup Final, beating the Montreal Canadiens 4-0 on Wednesday night.

Frederik Andersen made 18 saves for his third shutout in 12 postseason games this year to help the Hurricanes take a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Final. Game 5 is Friday night in North Carolina, with the series winner facing the Vegas Golden Knights.

Nikolaj Ehlers and Shayne Gostisbehere each had two assists for the Hurricanes. They are the seventh NHL team to win six or more road games to start a postseason.

Anderson and the Hurricanes are 11-1 in the first three rounds. They put it away early in Game 4 after winning the previous two games in overtime.

The Hurricanes scored first for the fourth straight game when Aho beat Jakub Dobes with a one-timer from the right circle on a power play with 5:02 left in the first.

Staal followed with 3:53 to go, tipping in K’Andre Miller’s centering pass. Stankoven then finished off a two-on-one with Jason Blake with 2:14 remaining in the period.

Andrei Svechnikov had an empty-net goal in the third.

Carolina had a 19-3 shots-on-goal advantage in the third period for a 43-18 overall edge.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Carolina Hurricanes' Logan Stankoven (22) reacts after scoring against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of Game 4 of NHL Eastern Conference final Stanley Cup playoff series action in Montreal, Quebec, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Carolina Hurricanes' Alexander Nikishin (21) checks Montreal Canadiens' Kaiden Guhle during the second period of Game 4 of NHL Eastern Conference final Stanley Cup playoff series game in Montreal on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal (11) celebrates with teammate Sean Walker (26) after scoring against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of Game 4 of NHL Eastern Conference final Stanley Cup playoff series action in Montreal, Quebec, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) reacts as he is scored on by Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal (11) as Canadiens' Josh Anderson (17) defends during the first period of Game 4 of NHL Eastern Conference final Stanley Cup playoff series action in Montreal, Quebec, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Carolina Hurricanes' Logan Stankoven (22) scores on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) during the first period of Game 4 of NHL Eastern Conference final Stanley Cup playoff series action in Montreal, Quebec, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto homered again, Carson Benge provided two clutch singles and the New York Mets pieced together a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds that snapped a five-game losing streak Wednesday night.

Eric Wagaman also went deep in his first start for the last-place Mets (23-33), who prevented a three-game sweep and avoided falling a season-worst 12 games under .500.

New York mustered only six runs during the skid and had scored two or fewer in each of its previous six games.

Nathaniel Lowe and Sal Stewart each had an RBI single for the Reds (29-26), who stranded a season-high 17 runners against six Mets pitchers. Rookie right-hander Jonah Tong (1-0) earned his third major league win after permitting just an unearned run over 3 2/3 innings in relief of opener Huascar Brazobán.

Brooks Raley and Luke Weaver each worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Devin Williams walked the bases loaded in the ninth before striking out Dane Myers and Blake Dunn for his eighth save.

Cincinnati had won three in a row and five of six.

Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott (4-3) allowed three runs — two earned — and five hits in six innings, dropping to 0-3 in five career outings against the Mets. He was 4-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his previous five starts overall.

Soto connected on a first-inning curveball for his 12th homer this season, second in two nights and sixth in his past seven games.

Wagaman, playing his second game for the Mets, added another solo shot in the second for his first hit with the team.

Benge had two-out RBI singles in the fifth and seventh — both after the rookie fell behind 0-2 in the count.

Mets first baseman/designated hitter Jorge Polanco (left Achilles bursitis) began a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton, going 1 for 2 with a leadoff single and a run as the DH against Portland.

Reds: Following an off day, RHP Chris Paddack (0-6, 6.86 ERA) starts Friday night at home against RHP Grant Holmes (3-2, 3.78) and the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves.

Mets: RHP Freddy Peralta (3-4, 3.52 ERA) pitches Friday night at home versus Marlins RHP Max Meyer (5-0, 2.52), who shut down the Mets on one hit over seven scoreless innings last Saturday in Miami.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott (41) throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Mets' Carson Benge (3) hits an RBI single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) celebrates with second baseman Marcus Semien (10) after winning a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Mets pitcher Devin Williams (38) reacts after winning a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Mets' Juan Soto hits a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)