Hurricanes Shut Out Ottawa

Carolina opened the Stanley Cup playoffs by smothering Ottawa, winning 2-0 in Game 1 on Saturday behind Frederik Andersen’s 22-save shutout. (nhl.com) Logan Stankoven scored 2:11 into the second period, and Taylor Hall added a deflection goal at 7:15 of the third. Jackson Blake had assists on both goals at Lenovo Center in Raleigh. (espn.com) Andersen’s shutout was the sixth of his playoff career, and Carolina held Ottawa off through a scoreless first period before taking control. Linus Ullmark stopped 20 shots for the Senators. (nhl.com) (apnews.com) The game opened the Eastern Conference first-round series between the Metropolitan Division-winning Hurricanes and a Senators team back in the postseason after a long absence. The National Hockey League scheduled the opener for 3 p.m. Eastern on April 18 as the playoffs began league-wide. (nhl.com 1) (nhl.com 2) Carolina’s edge showed up in the flow of play as well as the score. The Hurricanes finished with 29 shots to Ottawa’s 22 and delivered 57 hits, while the Senators won 56.4% of faceoffs but could not convert on three power plays. (espn.com) Ottawa thought it had a path back when Drake Batherson appeared to tie the game in the third period, but the goal was waved off. Andersen then preserved the lead with a pair of close-range stops that kept Carolina in front. (espn.com) (nhl.com) The opener was also the first game on the National Hockey League’s 2026 playoff schedule, which rolled into a rivalry night in Pittsburgh with Flyers-Penguins later Saturday. Carolina already has the early advantage in a bracket that turned over six playoff teams from last season. (nhl.com) Game 2 stays in Raleigh before the series shifts to Ottawa, and Carolina heads there with a 1-0 lead and a goalie who has already set the tone. (nhl.com)