It's hard to envision a better start to the series for the Carolina Hurricanes than they got in Game 1. They shut out the Ottawa Senators. They were literally perfect on the scoreboard. They're out in front of the series now, but they might've poked the bear a little. We could see a motivated and desperate Ottawa team after dropping the opening game.
Game 1: The series kicked off on Saturday afternoon, and it was a great start for the home team. After a scoreless first period, Logan Stankoven broke the ice early in the second period, finishing a beautiful passing sequence with his linemates. That line got the insurance goal in the third as well, with Stankoven's shot redirecting off Taylor Hall's skate, and Jackson Blake assisting on both goals.
Along with the brilliance of the Stankoven line, Frederik Andersen was outstanding to open the best-of-seven clash. While he faced just nine shots in the first two periods, Andersen was on his game in the third. The Senators threw 13 shots at him, and he stopped them all. Two of them were jaw-droppers as the Canes escaped with a 2-0 shutout win to take a 1-0 series lead.
On the Other Side: Ottawa Senators
Artem Zub left Game 1 early in the second period after laying a huge hit on Seth Jarvis. While Jarvis bore the brunt of the contact, the Ottawa defenseman missed the remainder of the afternoon. Ottawa Head Coach Travis Green was scarce with details of Zub's availability for tonight's game, and it's unclear whether this is gamesmanship on his part or genuine uncertainty.
For all of Andersen's brilliance in Game 1, I also thought Linus Ullmark played a solid game. His two worst moments led to goals, the first of which was very soft. However, Ullmark was the only reason that the game didn't get out of hand. The Canes should've scored more than twice on Saturday. Ullmark made a few high-quality stops of his own to keep his team in the contest.
What to Watch in Game 2
The Canes' power play must get back on track: The Hurricanes had two massive chances to put the game away on Saturday when they drew a pair of 5-on-3 opportunities. Instead, they came up empty. It was part of a 0-for-5 performance for one of the league's top power plays. They had eight shots on their five chances, but nothing found the back of the net.
This isn't a new feeling for the fans, who've grown accustomed to the Canes' struggles with the man advantage during recent postseasons. There's only so long a leash that they'll allow the team on the ice to have before they grow restless. You're only going to get so many opportunities. I would like to see a cash-in in Game 2.
Whose top line plays the better game: Neither top line found the scoresheet in the opening game, with all of Carolina's scoring coming from their second line. I don't expect that trend to continue throughout the series. It certainly wasn't for a lack of chances on either side. Tim Stutzle had four shots, while Ottawa's other stars were also all over it.
For the Canes, I thought they had an okay game without scoring. Andrei Svechnikov was especially effective, putting up six shots and eight hits. Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis were a little less noticeable. Part of their effectiveness stems from their work on the power play, so if that gets going, it'll likely be because of the work of the top trio.
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