Carolina won because Blake's 2-goal, 3-point night drove a 40-shot offensive assault that Vladar ultimately could not absorb in overtime.
β‘TURNING POINT
Blake's OT winner at 5:31 was decisive because it converted Carolina's sustained shot volume advantage into an outcome Philadelphia's defense had spent 65 minutes borrowing against. With Vladar having stopped 37 of 40, one final Carolina sequence exhausted the margin β there was no save left to steal.
πWHY CAR WON (ranked by impact β most decisive first)
1
Shot Dominance: 40 shots to PHI's 17 β Carolina generated more than double the offensive volume, creating a probability ceiling no goalie could sustain through overtime.
2
Individual Production: Blake posted 2G 1A at +2 in 17:29 β a single skater accounting for two of three Carolina goals and both critical lead-change moments.
3
Faceoff Control: 51.4% faceoff rate, 37 wins β marginal but consistent possession advantages compounded against a team already pinned in their own zone.
πWHY PHI LOST (ranked by impact β biggest failure first)
1
Shot Suppression Failure: PHI allowed 40 shots β generating only 17 in return, a 23-shot deficit that reduced their margin for error to zero across 65-plus minutes.
2
Goaltending Margin Burned: Vladar conceded 1.00 goal below league average on 40 shots β that cushion was fully consumed absorbing the volume, leaving nothing in reserve for overtime.
3
Giveaways: PHI recorded 19 giveaways to CAR's 13 β chronic puck management failures extended Carolina's offensive zone time and directly inflated the shot deficit.
Three Stars
Jackson Blake1st
CAR, R
2G 1A 3P3 SOGTOI 17:29+2
Blake's two goals were the only reason Carolina could absorb a slow start and survive into overtime.
Logan Stankoven2nd
CAR, C
1G 0A 1P2 SOGTOI 16:12+2
Stankoven's third-period goal restored the lead at the critical juncture when Philadelphia had the momentum to steal regulation.
Dan Vladar3rd
PHI, G
SV% 0.92537/40 savesTOI 65:31
Vladar conceded 1.00 goal below league average on 40 shots β without that margin, Philadelphia does not reach overtime.
