The Carolina Hurricanes will play the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference Second Round.
The Hurricanes advanced by defeating the Ottawa Senators 4-2 in Game 4 at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday to sweep the best-of-7 series.
The Hurricanes, the No. 1 seed from the Metropolitan Division, will have home-ice advantage against the Flyers, the No. 3 seed in the Metropolitan. Philadelphia advanced by defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 1-0 in overtime in Game 6 at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Wednesday to win the series 4-2.
Forward Taylor Hall led the Hurricanes in the first round with seven points (two goals, five assists). Forward Logan Stankoven had four goals, including scoring in each game of the series, and forward Sebastian Aho had three goals.
Frederik Andersen started all four games, going 4-0 with a 1.10 goals-against average, .955 save percentage and one shutout.
The Hurricanes went 3-0-1 against Flyers this season with each game being decided after regulation. Hall and Nikolaj Ehlers each had two goals and an assist. Defenseman Alexander Nikishin had a goal and two assists, and Seth Jarvis had two goals.
“They’re a really good team, play with a lot of pace,” Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim said. “We had really good games with them all year. I think we went into extra time every single time we played them. Really excited about the challenge. Going to enjoy this and then move on tomorrow.”
Andersen won his only start, making 20 saves in a 4-3 overtime win on Oct. 11. Brandon Bussi was 1-0-1 with a 1.85 GAA and .918 save percentage, and Pyotr Kochetkov, who has not played since Dec. 20 because of hip surgery, allowed three goals on 18 shots in a 4-3 shootout win on Dec. 13.
Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen led the Flyers in the first round with five points (one goal, four assists), and forwards Travis Konecny, Noah Cates and Trevor Zegras each had one goal and three assists. Goalie Dan Vladar was 4-2 with a 1.61 GAA and .937 save percentage allowing 10 goals in six games.
Zegrashad six points (three goals, three assists) in four games against the Hurricanes, and Konecny had three assists. Jamie Drysdale, Travis Sanheim and Matvei Michkov each had a goal and an assist.
Vladar was 1-0-1 with a 1.86 GAA and .931 save percentage, allowing four goals on 58 shots, and Samuel Ersson was 0-0-2 with a 3.24 GAA and .883 save percentage.
Philadelphia and Carolina have never played each other in the playoffs.
“We’ve got to possess the puck more. That’s the next level,” Philadelphia coach Rick Tocchet said. “I thought our neutral zone was something we got, especially against Carolina, we have to be better at controlling the puck. But that’s controlling the ice, you’re skating. It’s timing, it’s all that stuff, it’s patience, and that’s something we’re working on.
“And some games, it’s working. Some games, we’re a little bit off. But that’s inexperience. That’s an experienced team over there (Pittsburgh), and we will get there. But it’s important that we understand, these guys are young guys, and they’re going to make mistakes.”
