3. Shutouts and road success
After stopping all 18 shots faced on the road against the Canadiens in Game 4, Andersen now leads the NHL with three shutouts this postseason and has also set the franchise record for career playoff shutouts (five, surpassing Cam Ward’s four). His shutouts in Game 1s against both the Ottawa Senators in the first round (22 saves) and Philadelphia Flyers in the second round (19 saves) set the tone for each of those series.
Andersen became the fifth goalie ever to win each of his first six road games to start a postseason; the others were Jonathan Quick (2012 with Los Angeles Kings), Billy Smith (1980 with New York Islanders), Sergei Bobrovsky (2023 with Florida Panthers) and Patrick Roy (1999 with Colorado Avalanche). The Hurricanes have outscored their opponents by 17 goals with Andersen in net this postseason (36-19), which is the second-best goal differential among all goalies (behind Carter Hart’s plus-19).
In terms of quality starts percentage (starts with greater than .900 save percentage), Hart (75.0) is also slightly ahead of Andersen (66.7). The Hurricanes, who have a 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 series against the Canadiens, would play the Golden Knights in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final if they advance. Andersen would be among the oldest Conn Smythe Trophy winners ever (award originated in 1965); goalies Tim Thomas 2011 with Boston Bruins) and Glenn Hall (1968 with St. Louis Blues) each won the Conn Smythe at 36 years old.
