Six games into the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Carolina Hurricanes have yet to taste defeat.

The Hurricanes’ unbeaten tour makes a new stop Thursday when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers for Game 3 of their second-round series.

After sweeping the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the playoffs, Carolina posted a 3-0 victory in Game 1 against Philadelphia. The Hurricanes appeared more vulnerable in Game 2 as they trailed 2-0 early in the first period and were outplayed for most of overtime. However, they prevailed 18:54 into the extra session when Taylor Hall poked home a loose puck

“It’s probably a good sign for us that we have another level and we all know it,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said after the 3-2 triumph. “We find ways, obviously, to get it done.”

Meanwhile, the Flyers are desperate for a victory as they return to home ice — where they went 2-1 during their first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“It’s unfortunate that we weren’t able to come out with this one,” Philadelphia defenseman Jamie Drysdale said after Game 2, in which he opened the scoring. “There’s definitely things we can take and learn. We’ve got a few days here to regroup and come back hard at home.”

Adding another level of difficulty to his team’s comeback hopes, Philadelphia coach Rick Tocchet announced Wednesday that the Flyers will play the rest of the series without center Noah Cates due to a lower-body injury suffered in Game 2.

Cates produced 18 goals, 29 assists and a team-best plus-26 plus-minus rating during the regular season before providing one goal and three assists in eight postseason games.

“He’s a huge part (of our team). He’s Mr. Consistency. He does a lot of things for us, but it’s no different than other teams — next man up,” said Tocchet, who noted that Trevor Zegras and Denver Barkey will see more time at center. “We’re good there. We’ll be OK.”

Philadelphia also could be without Owen Tippett (undisclosed injury) for the third straight game. He’ll be a game-time decision.

On the other hand, Carolina likely will welcome back a key piece to its lineup. Defenseman Alexander Nikishin, who suffered a concussion in Game 4 of the Hurricanes’ first-round series, is eligible to return Thursday.

“He’s been cleared and had a good practice, so he’s definitely an option for tomorrow,” Brind’Amour said Wednesday.

Carolina’s improving defensive depth, combined with Philadelphia’s precarious injury situation, puts even more pressure on Flyers rookies Porter Martone, Alex Bump and Barkey and the team’s other players experiencing their first playoff runs.

“I think from the first game to the second game, you saw improvement,” Tocchet said. “… I think going into Game 3, I think you’ll see more improvement. Our team improved from the first game to the second game. And I think the young guys were in that boat. So, yeah, really excited for those guys to play in this kind of atmosphere.”

The Hurricanes’ veteran-laden team has won 13 of its last 15 games dating back to March 31. Perhaps more relevant, they have won nine of their last 10 contests decided by one goal.

Their poise shined through in Game 2 when they had to overcome the early deficit, withstand the Flyers’ push in overtime and deal with seven power plays for the night.

“As this series goes on, you’re always expecting the best from the other team,” said Carolina center Sebastian Aho, who has yet to register a point in this series. “We’ve got to be ready for the next one.”

–Field Level Media

Estevao is rehabilitating in Brazil using the facilities of his former squad, according to a report Wednesday from The Athletic.

The Chelsea star suffered a hamstring injury during a loss to Manchester United earlier this month. Yet, instead of working on his rehab in London, he’s nursing the injury at Palmeiras, where he scored 18 goals in 62 appearances over three years.

A source revealed to The Athletic that the current arrangement is a short-term situation, with the 19-year-old expected back in London before the Premier League season ends May 24.

The injury nevertheless puts into question Estevao’s availability for a World Cup appearance this summer for his native Brazil. Several outlets have referred to the hamstring injury as “grad four,” which typically has a longer recovery time. As a five-time goal-scorer for his national team, his absence would be noteworthy during the tournament that begins June 11 and concludes July 19.

Estevao has two goals over 22 appearances this season for Chelsea (13-13-9, 48 points), which has three Premier Leagues games left.

–Field Level Media

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t put up his usual eye-popping numbers in Game 1 of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s second-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers.

But heading into Thursday’s Game 2 of the series in Oklahoma City, the NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player says he won’t mind if the Lakers keep throwing constant double teams his way like they did for much of Tuesday’s game that wound up a 108-90 victory for the Thunder.

“Ultimately it’s the easiest form of basketball,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I’d much rather do that than have to go one-on-one all night over somebody. My teammates on the back end playing four-on-three, it’s what you play for.”

Gilgeous-Alexander finished Game 1 with 18 points and seven turnovers.

It marked the first time Gilgeous-Alexander had been held to fewer than 20 points since Game 3 of last season’s Western Conference finals — a stretch of 81 appearances — so the Lakers’ tactics paid off in that regard.

But when you consider the Thunder still won by 18, how much did it really help?

“We have a lot of guys who can make smart reads,” said Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein. “We feel really comfortable when they’re trapping and just making the right reads out of that. … Multiple guys that if we catch it in the pocket, it’s an easy read for us. So it’s just making sure that we give Shai outlets.”

The Thunder also had plenty of success on the offensive glass, turning 12 offensive rebounds into 21 second-chance points.

“When they play like that, it’s one of the advantages that you have,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “They’re throwing two at Shai really early in possessions and, in order to do that, you get two guys on the ball and then you’ve got three guys off of bodies and rotating and that presents rebounding opportunities.

“We need to be aggressive if the ball comes out of traps, in shooting or attacking, and then when we do shoot, we’ve got to chase the ball in those situations because there’s rebounds to be had.”

The Lakers remain without star Luka Doncic, who said Wednesday he continues to improve but declined to put a timeline on his return. Doncic, who suffered a hamstring injury April 2 against Oklahoma City, said the initial timeline for his return was eight weeks. That’s roughly when the Western Conference finals will end.

LeBron James said his team must be better offensively after scoring just 90 points — the fewest for Los Angeles in a playoff game since the 2021 first round.

“When you play against great defense, you have to have guys that can attract multiple defenders on the floor at all times,” James said. “I felt like we had great shots. … We missed them. When you’re playing against the world champions, having a guy that averages 34 (points), six (rebounds) and eight or nine (assists), that’s special.

“So we have to be better at finding ways to get to the blender, finding ways to get to the paint. We know they’re a paint-swarming team, so we have to be better about getting to the paint, not turning the ball over and shooting with confidence.”

Lakers coach JJ Redick said forward Jarred Vanderbilt is “day to day” after dislocating his right pinkie finger in the first half of Tuesday’s game. The club listed him as doubtful for Game 2.

Vanderbilt has averaged 3.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 12 minutes during the postseason.

–Field Level Media