Capitals, Hurricanes Split NHL Playoff Series; Oilers Lead Golden Knights

The second-round Stanley Cup playoffs have featured intense matchups, with the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals splitting the first two games of their series. The Hurricanes won Game 1 in overtime, thanks to Jaccob Slavin's goal, and overcame the Capitals' home-ice advantage despite Washington leading early in the second period. However, the Capitals evened the series with a 3-1 victory in Game 2, powered by goals from Connor McMichael, John Carlson, and Tom Wilson, and strong goaltending from Logan Thompson. Meanwhile, in the Western Conference, the Edmonton Oilers took a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Vegas Golden Knights, rallying from a two-goal deficit in Game 1 and securing an overtime win in Game 2 with Leon Draisaitl scoring the winner. The Hurricanes, despite being underrated by some analysts and finishing 10th in regular season points, have emerged as strong contenders due to their playoff performance and are now considered among the favorites to win the Stanley Cup. Both series continue with Games 3 scheduled in Raleigh and Edmonton respectively, promising further high-stakes hockey action.