May 12, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) scores a empty net goal against the Washington Capitals during the third period in game four of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. (Photo Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images)While the Muskegon Lumberjacks are focused on the Clark Cup Final, one of their former players is trying to help his team win a Stanley Cup.
Andrei Svechnikov and his Carolina Hurricanes are on the verge of eliminating the Washington Capitals in their Eastern Conference Second Round Series.
The Canes took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with a 5-2 victory Monday night at Lenovo Center.
Svechnikov put the game on ice with an empty-netter late in the third to secure the victory. In Saturday night’s Game 3 win, a 4-0 shutout, he lit the lamp to put Carolina ahead 1-0 after firing a shot past Caps netminder Logan Thompson following a faceoff loss. Svechnikov almost scored earlier in the game after hitting the post.
"After every faceoff, we have a plan kind of, but to be honest, that one wasn't planned," Svechnikov said after the game. "I just saw the puck was loose and made the move to get closer to the puck and shot it.”
The season hasn’t all been a bed of roses for Svechnikov. He returned for the 2024-25 regular season after suffering an ACL tear in 2023. He recorded 48 points (20-28-48) in 72 games, but had just nine 5v5 points in the first 37 games.
Things have certainly turned around for Svechnikov during the playoffs. The native of Barnaul, Russia, who spent one season in the USHL with the Jacks, currently paces the Hurricanes in goals during the post-season with seven.
"He always plays with the same kind of passion and pace," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour told The Hockey News. "He puts the work in, and I think that's the most critical part of anything. Things aren't always going to go your way, but it's about how you respond. He's hard on himself when things aren't going well and that's obviously why love him, because he does care."
In the Canes’ first-round series against the New Jersey Devils, which Carolina took in five games, Svechnikov notched a hat trick. It was the second post-season hatty of his career, and he is the only player in franchise history to score a hat trick during the playoffs.
"I love this time of the year,” Svechnikov said following the game. "Playing a physical game and just trying to do everything I can to help my team win the game."
During the 2016-17 season with Muskegon, Svechnikov made the USHL All-Rookie and All-Star First Teams and was voted Rookie of the Year. He recorded 29 goals and 29 assists for 58 points in 48 games with the Jacks that season.
The 25-year-old left-shot forward was drafted as the second overall pick by the Hurricanes in the 2018 NHL Draft. Now in his seventh NHL season, he’s hoping to finish strong and lead the Canes to a Stanley Cup.
Carolina could get one step closer to that goal Thursday with a chance to eliminate the Capitals on the road and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Lumberjacks, meanwhile, resume their Clark Cup Final series against the Waterloo Black Hawks Friday, with that best-of-five series knotted at a game apiece. As they fight to bring home the trophy, they’ll be cheering on one of their own to get his.