Carolina ultimately pulled ahead with 1:59 remaining in regulation and hit an empty netter to bring the final score to 3-1. The Canes advance to their third Eastern Conference Final in seven years under Rod Brind’Amour, where they'll face either the Toronto Maple Leafs or Florida Panthers.

The team captain's third-period goal also broke a new NHL record. The Capitals announced, "Ovechkin scores his fifth goal of the playoffs to cut the deficit to 3-2. With the goal, Ovechkin passed Mario Lemieux (76) for the 12th-most playoff goals in NHL history.

Capitals' Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome have been non-factors so far in Round 2 against the Hurricanes, and that needs to change in Game 4.