Edmonton's Corey Perry scored two goals in the first period of Game 3, becoming the third-oldest player in Stanley Cup playoff history with a multigoal period; at 39 years, 359 days old, he is behind Nicklas Lidstrom (41) and Teemu Selanne (40) at the time they had a multigoal period in a playoff game.

Washington Capitals' Connor McMichael (24) controls the puck with Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Robinson (50) in pursuit during the third 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) AP

With their eyes set on the Stanley Cup final, Washington made quick work of the Montreal Canadiens in the first round, and are now tasked with getting past the Carolina Hurricanes

With eight teams eliminated, let's rank the remaining potential matchups — from worst to best — based purely on narratives and vibes.

The Washington Capitals face the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of the second-round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on Saturday, May 10, 2025. The game will be broadcast at 6 p.m. ET on TNT/truTV. If you don’t have cable, here’s how you can watch the game.

T he stakes are high between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Washington Capitals. Entering Game 4 of their second-round series, the Canes can take a 3-1 series lead over the top-s

Goaltender Frederik Andersen has given Canes a comfort level with his play in net that allowed them to be aggressive and take 3-1 series lead.