Svechnikov entered the playoffs at a crossroads: a potential star searching for the game that previously made him such an intriguing player.

The Carolina Hurricanes faced the New Jersey Devils in Game 4 of their 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs matchup. The Devils won Game 3 in overtime thanks to young defenseman Simon Nemec. Carolina needed to step up in Game 4 if they wanted to win.

Andrei Svechnikov recorded a hat trick in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals on Sunday for the Carolina Hurricanes, who overcame the second-period loss of goalie Frederik Andersen to beat the New Jersey Devils 5-2 in Newark,