The Carolina Hurricanes have become the first team in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs to advance to the second round, completing a four-game sweep of the Ottawa Senators with a 4-2 victory in Game 4 at the Canadian Tire Centre on April 25, 2026. The win marks the Hurricanes’ second four-game sweep in franchise history and makes them the 20th team in NHL history to never trail in a game during a best-of-seven series.
Logan Stankoven delivered another standout performance, scoring the go-ahead goal on the power play with just under 11 minutes remaining in the third period. His goal came after a blast from K’Andre Miller deflected off the end wall and landed at Stankoven’s feet for an easy putback past Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark. Stankoven, who has emerged as a key contributor throughout the series, also recorded an assist in the game.
Taylor Hall provided the Hurricanes’ first lead of the game early in the second period, though it was short-lived as Drake Batherson answered just 1:53 later with Ottawa’s first power-play goal of the series, ending an 0-for-17 drought for the Senators’ special teams. The goal came during one of Ottawa’s nine power-play opportunities in the game, all of which ultimately failed to produce a tally.
Sebastian Aho sealed the victory with two empty-net goals in the final minutes, adding to his goal and assist from earlier in the contest. Frederik Andersen stood tall in net for Carolina, making 25 saves on 27 shots faced. Seth Jarvis contributed two assists, although Hall finished with a goal and two helpers.
For the Senators, Batherson led the offense with a goal and an assist, and Dylan Cozens also found the scoresheet. Ullmark stopped 26 of 30 shots in defeat. Rookie defenseman Carter Yakemchuk made his playoff debut, recording two assists in the process.
The series was defined by Carolina’s dominance, as Ottawa never led at any point in any game and scored just five goals across the four contests. The Hurricanes’ suffocating defense and timely offensive bursts proved too much for a Senators team that struggled to generate consistent pressure throughout the matchup.
With the sweep, Carolina advances to face the winner of the New York Rangers versus Washington Capitals series in the Eastern Conference second round. The Hurricanes will look to build on their momentum as they pursue their first Stanley Cup appearance since 2002.
As the first team to secure a second-round berth in the 2026 playoffs, Carolina has set the tone for the postseason with a statement series victory. Their ability to win without ever trailing in a game highlights the depth and resilience of a roster that has combined veteran leadership with emerging talent to achieve success on hockey’s biggest stage.
What does this sweep mean for the Hurricanes’ championship aspirations moving forward? How will the Senators regroup after being swept out of the playoffs for the second consecutive year? These questions will shape the narrative as the Stanley Cup Playoffs continue to unfold.
Stay tuned to Archysport.com for ongoing coverage of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including updates on the Hurricanes’ next opponent and analysis of what lies ahead for both Carolina and Ottawa as they chart their respective paths forward.
