Canes keep rolling, blank Flyers to open semifinal series

Stankoven tallied for the fifth consecutive game to open the scoring only 91 seconds into the clash. Reilly fired a point shot that Stankoven deflected into the net. Stankoven, 23, is the youngest player in history to score goals in five consecutive games to open the playoffs.

Stankoven has scored first in four of Carolina's five playoff outings.

Blake doubled the lead six minutes later with a highlight-reel worthy tally. He zipped around the defenders before tucking home the puck for his second tally of the playoffs.

The Flyers had managed only one shot on goal at that point.

Stankoven gave the Hurricanes a three-goal edge late in the second period. After a turnover, Seth Jarvis fed a pass to Stankoven in the slot and he immediately buried the chance with 3:44 remaining in the middle frame.

From there, the Hurricanes cruised to victory, amidst a string of message- sending infractions by the Flyers and retaliatory actions from Carolina's skaters.

After a handful of players were sent to the dressing room with misconducts just past the midway point of the final frame, things quieted.

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Canes keep rolling, blank Flyers to open semifinal series