Projected lineup: – The Carolina Hurricanes return after a 12-day pause to open the Eastern Conference Final against the Montreal Canadiens at Lenovo Center, leaning on Frederik Andersen’s playoff form and an offense led by Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake.
RALEIGH, N.C. — Tonight, the Carolina Hurricanes step back onto the ice after 12 days away, treating the Eastern Conference Final opener against the Montreal Canadiens at Lenovo Center like it’s business as usual.
They’re trying to prove that a long layoff between series isn’t a problem. The pause is the latest interruption in a run that already looks built for momentum: after taking the Senators in a four-game sweep, Carolina followed with another sweep, this time against the Flyers.
The spark up front has been Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake. Together, they have combined for 31 points during Carolina’s 8-0 run.
On defense. the Hurricanes have tightened the game in a way that forces opponents to try to solve them all night. Carolina has allowed two goals or fewer in all eight games. with Frederik Andersen doing much of the heavy lifting behind the scenes. Andersen — 36 years old — leads the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a .950 save percentage and a 1.12 goals against average.
Carolina’s projected lineup for tonight puts the main scoring threats in familiar positions:
Forwards
Svechnikov – Aho – Jarvis
Hall – Stankoven – Blake
Ehlers – Staal – Martinook
Carrier – Jankowski – Robinson
Defense
Slavin – Chatfield
Miller – Walker
Gostisbehere – Nikishin
Starting Goaltender
Andersen
Injuries: N/A
Scratches: Nicolas Deslauriers, Pyotr Kochetkov, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Mike Reilly.
Special teams could be another telling factor. Power play unit 1 is set as Aho, Ehlers (Staal), Jarvis, and Svechnikov with Gostisbehere. Power play unit 2 is Blake, Hall, Jankowski, and Stankoven with Miller.
There’s also a specific faceoff rhythm built into the plan. Jordan Staal has been taking the faceoffs to start most power plays. If he wins it. he stays on the ice; when the puck comes out of the zone. he jumps off and Nikolaj Ehlers goes on with the first unit. If Staal wins the faceoff for the second unit, Mark Jankowski takes over when Staal goes off.
For Carolina, the story of Game 1 isn’t just about who’s on the ice. It’s about whether the team can pick up its defensive discipline, its offensive chemistry, and Andersen’s playoff dominance right where it left off — even after the calendar forced everyone into a pause.
Carolina Hurricanes Montreal Canadiens Eastern Conference Final Game 1 projected lineup Frederik Andersen Taylor Hall Logan Stankoven Jackson Blake