Carolina Hurricanes – Carolina opened the second-round series with a 3-0 win over Philadelphia, led by two goals from Logan Stankoven and a shutout by Frederik Andersen.
Carolina turned the opening moments of its second-round matchup into a statement, rolling past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0 to take the early lead in the series.
Logan Stankoven scored twice as the Hurricanes stamped their authority from the start, while Jackson Blake added a goal to round out the scoring. Frederik Andersen made 18 saves for his second shutout of the playoffs, improving his postseason record with a seventh shutout overall.
For Carolina, it was a performance built on control rather than chaos, a reminder that in the second round, the team that dictates tempo often ends up dictating outcomes.
The Hurricanes never let the Flyers settle, an especially notable contrast to how the regular season series had played out. Instead of extended stretches of close calls, Carolina came out aggressive and paid off quickly.
Stankoven got on the board early on a redirect from the slot. and Carolina followed with another goal when Blake split defenders to beat Philadelphia’s Dan Vladar.. With Andersen consistently positioning himself and the Flyers struggling to generate sustained pressure. Philadelphia found it difficult to create urgency at the other end.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia’s road to the playoffs provided plenty of grit, but it did not translate into strong starts against the Hurricanes. After pushing through overtime to close out its previous series, the Flyers managed limited production early and were held in check on special teams.
The game also tightened as it wore on, with heated moments that led to multiple misconduct penalties late. Trevor Zegras and Nick Seeler were among those penalized for Philadelphia, while Blake and Shayne Gostisbehere were also sent to the penalty box during the escalating physicality.
Both teams entered the night with absences that shaped rotations. The Flyers were without Owen Tippett due to an undisclosed injury, and Carolina played without defenseman Alexander Nikishin after he suffered a concussion during the previous round.
The takeaway heading into Game 2 in Raleigh: Carolina’s shutout came from more than finishing. It reflected discipline, starting fast, and a defensive structure that left Philadelphia chasing answers instead of building momentum.