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Carolina Hurricanes: Three keys to beating Maple Leafs

By Conor Power

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 25: Dave Ayres sounds the warning siren during the game between the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes at at PNC Arena on February 25, 2020 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ayres, in emergency relief, recorded eight saves, the win and first-star honors in his National Hockey League debut with the Carolina Hurricanes in their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 22. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 25: Dave Ayres sounds the warning siren during the game between the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes at at PNC Arena on February 25, 2020 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ayres, in emergency relief, recorded eight saves, the win and first-star honors in his National Hockey League debut with the Carolina Hurricanes in their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 22. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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MONTREAL, QC – OCTOBER 21: Frederik Andersen #31 of the Carolina Hurricanes tends the net against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period at Centre Bell on October 21, 2021, in Montreal, Canada. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – OCTOBER 21: Frederik Andersen #31 of the Carolina Hurricanes tends the net against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period at Centre Bell on October 21, 2021, in Montreal, Canada. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Here’s Freddie

For the first time since facing his old team, Frederik Andersen is set to make his first start against his former team. As one of the most stable players on the roster, Andersen’s ability to make big saves at crucial moments has become a hallmark of the Carolina Hurricanes netminding through the early part of the 2021-22 season.

Andersen’s big saves and skill have really stolen Carolina points this season that they did not deserve to win. He’ll never get the same headlines as the star forwards on the roster, but he’s been nothing short of fantastic through the early part of the season. While I can talk about Andersen’s start to the season forever, there’s something bigger at play.

Andersen will face his old team for the first time since coming to Carolina as a free agent this summer. A vital performance from Andersen will be the difference between the Carolina Hurricanes escaping Toronto with 2 points and nothing. Toronto is talented, and showing the organization that let him go to be wrong provides a great storyline for tonight.

Andersen’s great performances in the recent games have sparked a lot of optimism around the Carolina Hurricanes fanbase. With that in mind, we know that Frederik Andersen has a lot of skill, but he also has a rich history of injuries and that’s not good. We know Andersen will be a vital part of this team if they’re going to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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