Hurricanes hold the line to take Game 1, win 5th straight playoff game

The Carolina Hurricanes found a formula that worked well for them in the Eastern Conference First Round, so they figured they might as well stick with it. Logan Stankoven and linemates Jackson Blake and Taylor Hall again played the leading role, with support from goalie Frederik Andersen, in the Hurricanes’ 3-0 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at Lenovo Center on Saturday. Stankoven continued his hot start to the Stanley Cup Playoffs by scoring 1:31 into the game and scored again in the second period. Blake had a goal and an assist, and Andersen made 19 saves for his second shutout of the postseason. Hall also had an assist to give him a team-leading eight points (two goals, six assists) in the playoffs. The Hurricanes improved to 5-0 in the playoffs, including their four-game sweep of the Ottawa Senators in the first round. The line of Hall (two goals, five assists), Stankoven (four goals, one assist), and Blake (one goal, three assists) combined for 16 points in the first round. Stankoven scored in each of the four games of the series, including the opening goal in three of them. He became the first player in Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers history to have a five-game goal streak in the playoffs and the youngest player in NHL history to begin a postseason on a five-game goal streak at 23 years, 65 days old. Blake made it 2-0 at 7:30 of the first period after a backhand breakout pass from Hall. Stankoven made it 3-0 in the second period by finishing a 2-on-1 with Seth Jarvis. Andersen was sharp, particularly in the third period, making key saves despite Flyers 10 of 19 shots. The only late drama involved Andersen choosing to pass instead of shooting for the empty net after the Flyers pulled Vladar for an extra attacker. Andersen settled for his 24th playoff win, passing Cam Ward for most in Hurricanes/Whalers history and tying Ward’s franchise record of four postseason shutouts. Coach Rod Brind’Amour highlighted the consistency of the Stankoven-Blake-Hall line, noting their role as the difference maker from the start of the playoffs.