Second verse, same as the first for Hurricanes in Game 1 shutout of Flyers
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- Logan Stankoven scored twice and now has a five-game playoff goal streak.
- Carolina Hurricanes won Game 1 3-0 with Frederik Andersen in net.
- Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round will be played Monday.
The legend of Logan Stankoven continues to grow.
The Carolina Hurricanes center, their little big man, scored twice and grabbed a piece of Stanley Cup playoff history Saturday in a 3-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 1 of their second-round series at Lenovo Center.
The second game of the Eastern Conference series will be played Monday at Lenovo Center as the NHL finally released its full playoff schedule Saturday night.
After scoring in each game of the Canes’ four-game sweep of the Ottawa Senators in the opening round, Stankoven now has six, and Saturday he became the youngest player in playoff history to begin a postseason with a five-game goal streak.
Winger Jackson Blake added his second goal of the playoffs as the Stankoven line, so relentlessly potent against the Senators, continued to sizzle. Blake gave the Canes a 2-0 lead after the first period, and Stankoven scored again in the second for a 3-0 cushion.
“Stanks has been unbelievable this postseason and he’s probably the hottest guy in hockey right now,” Blake said.
In net again for Carolina was Frederik Andersen, who was at his best and allowed five goals in the Ottawa series. Canes fans were chanting “Fred-die! Fred-die!” before his fifth straight start, again during the game, and loudly as the time ticked away on another playoff shutout.
It was Andersen’s 51st career playoff win and his 24th with the Hurricanes, surpassing Cam Ward’s franchise record. But he shrugged that off when it was mentioned after the game.
“We have a goal in mind and we want to get there and that means getting a win,” Andersen said. “We’re working hard to collect wins.”
While the Canes had a week between playoff games, it was a quick turnaround for the Flyers, who played without injured forward Owen Tippett. Their first playoff series stretched to six games against the Pittsburgh Penguins, ending with an emotional 1-0 overtime win Wednesday as goalie Dan Vladar had 42 saves.
The game Saturday, like the Ottawa series, had its chippy moments, with cross-checks and hard body checks and misconduct penalties being meted out.
The Canes had a scary moment late in the second. On a play in the Flyers zone, Andrei Svechnikov was fighting for the puck along the boards when Philadelphia forward Tyson Foerster skated in and slashed the back of Svechnikov’s right leg.
Svechnikov was left on the ice, in pain. Forester initially was called for a five-minute major, but after review was assessed a two-minute minor slashing penalty.
Svechnikov stayed in the game. His assist on Stankoven’s second goal was his first point in the playoffs, although his physical presence was felt against the Senators.
There was another flare-up 12 minutes into the third when Blake and Trevor Zegras tangled, sticks were high and Blake later was cross-checked in the back while on the ice.
“It was 3-0 at that point and eight minutes left, and I knew they were going to try and run us and do maybe not the smartest thing,” Blake said. “It comes with the game.”
Quick start for the Hurricanes
The Canes scored 91 seconds into the game and everyone in the building seemed to instantly have the same thought: Stankoven again? Yes, Stankoven. Again.
He had the first goal of the opening-round series with the Senators and was the first on the board in the second round. Positioned in the slot, he redirected a Mike Reilly shot past Vladar, and it was 1-0.
“We had a great start,” Staal said. “The fans were buzzing and we were going.”
Blake, who assisted on the first goal, then provided the second. Carrying the puck into the zone, he appeared to be shouldered past the cage by defenseman Travis Sanheim as he neared the net. But Blake reached out his stick and gave the puck a final tap — past Vladar at the post.
Six and a half minutes into the game and Stankoven and Blake had goals and Taylor Hall an assist on the Blake goal. That line was off and running again, and Stankoven added his second goal off a Seth Jarvis setup pass for a 3-0 lead.
“Junk-yard dogs,” Blake called his line mates.
The Canes finished off a strong first period that had them take a 2-0 lead, kill off two penalties with ease and allow the Flyers just four shots on goal. The Flyers were 0-4 on the power play in the game as the Canes’ penalty killers again worked hard.
Reilly, who replaced injured rookie Alexander Nikishin (concussion) on the back end, already had a pair of assists.
The Flyers’ first power play had Canes fans howling at the refs. The Flyers’ Nick Seeler, battling the Canes’ Jordan Martinook along the boards, lifted Martinook’s stick up near his face and earned a high-sticking call against Martinook.
One play, in particular, was symbolic of the Canes’ defensive hustle in the game.
In the second period, the Flyers’ Garnet Hathaway was called for slashing. The penalty killed, he jumped out of the box and had a breakaway, only to have Canes defenseman K’Andre Miller lunge from behind to knock the puck away and deny a shot.
This story was originally published May 2, 2026 at 11:12 PM with the headline "Second verse, same as the first for Hurricanes in Game 1 shutout of Flyers."
