Carolina Hurricanes: Keys to Game 1 vs. Nashville

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Mar 18, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (39) looks on before the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Nedeljkovic Gets the Start

Tonight, rookie goaltending phenom Alex Nedeljkovic will make his NHL playoff debut.

After being passed over by literally every active NHL team after the Canes placed him on waivers earlier this season, Nedeljkovic has had a meteoric rise to success over the past several months.

Ned reigns supreme over all NHL goaltenders with at least 15 starts this season with a stunning 15-5-3 win/loss record, .932 SV%, and 1.90 GAA.

There is nothing that can be said that hasn’t already been said about the Carolina Hurricanes’ newfound franchise netminder.

He has excelled at every single level he has been given an opportunity to play at, and I don’t expect that trend to stop tonight.

Alex Nedeljkovic has the tools necessary to carry the Carolina Hurricanes’ to a victory tonight, in this series, and eventually on to a Cup win. He’s a superior talent in every sense of the word, and I have a very strong feeling that we’re about to see him elevate his game to a whole new level this evening.

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