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NHL Playoffs: Multiple Players Ejected from Hurricanes Game 1 Shutout Win Over Flyers
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- NHL Playoffs: Multiple Players Ejected from Hurricanes Game 1 Shutout Win Over Flyers
James Guillory-Imagn Images
Logan Stankoven is currently the living, breathing embodiment of the chaos and suffocation the Carolina Hurricanes have been known for.
His second line was the first on the board against the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday night, just as they have for every game this postseason. Potting that first goal just 1:31 into the game was Stankoven – the third fastest playoff goal in franchise history – as he extended his postseason-opening goal-streak to five, becoming the youngest player in NHL history to do so.
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The next goal came just 7:30 into the first period from the stick of Jackson Blake , earning his second point of the game after assisting Stankoven's goal. The helpers came from Taylor Hall and Mike Reilly , who interestingly earned his own second point of the game, also assisting on Stankoven's goal.
Reilly, who was filling in for Alexander Nikishin after he failed to advance out of the NHL's concussion protocol, had only had 1:42 of ice time across three shifts when he made that second key play to help the Hurricanes get ahead. It was his first multi-point game since December 23, 2023, when he was with the New York Islanders – ironically playing against the Hurricanes.
The third and final goal of the game , once again, was Stankoven's – netting the goal on a neat pass from Seth Jarvis , assisted by Andrei Svechnikov . Stankoven had just come off the bench, and fell as he did so, but that little mishap put him in the right place, at the right time to find the back of the net.
When play resumed after the goal, Stankoven wasted no time trying for a hat-trick – firing the puck into Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar shortly after winning the following faceoff. He didn't get that third goal, but snapperjacks, he sure tried, tying Sean Couturier for a game-leading five shots on goal.
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Frederik Andersen Earns Second Shutout of Postseason Campaign
Stankoven certainly wasn't the only standout in the match, though.
Throughout his full 60-minutes of time on ice, Frederik Andersen turned away every shot he faced for a 19-save shutout. During the empty-net situation, he even responsibly ignored a chance for a potential goalie goal with clear ice ahead. He may have taken a tripping penalty against Porter Martone, but he was incredibly disciplined in the Hurricanes' 3-0 win.
Saturday Night's the Night for Fightin'
Mayhem ensued in Lenovo Center, slowly progressing from silly to outright chaotic. In the first period, Nick Seeler hilariously grabbed Jordan Martinook 's stick and appeared to hit himself in the face with it for a Flyers power play…somehow.
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Later, the aforementioned Marton trip from Andersen occurred as Jaccob Slavin slid straight into the net.
But then, things grew dangerous.
In the last minute of the second period, Andrei Svechnikov put a hit on the rookie Martone in a board battle for the puck, and Tyson Foerster took a hard whack at the back of Andrei Svechnikov's right knee – the same knee that required surgery to repair a torn ACL in the 2022-23 season.
Svechnikov remained down as Hurricanes head athletic trainer Doug Bennett rushed onto the ice, and the play was called for a five-minute major for slashing before review reduced it to a two-minute minor. Thankfully, Svechnikov did not go down the tunnel and was able to finish the game.
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However, that wasn't the end of things. There were roughing penalties abound throughout the final frame, and an altercation between Jackson Blake and Trevor Zegras earned them both 10-minute misconducts with 8:14 left. It was the first misconduct of Jackson Blake's NHL career, and the second of Zegras' postseason following some shenanigans in their Game 4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in Round One.
Less than two minutes later, Shayne Gostisbehere and Seeler were both given 10-minute misconducts for their own moment of mayhem following an offside whistle.
By the end of the game, both teams had a matching 34 penalty minutes apiece for a combined 68.
Hurricanes Game Notes
The Carolina Hurricanes are just the fifth team in NHL history to not trail in their first five playoff games. The last to do so was the Washington Capitals in their 1986 postseason campaign, who extended their streak to six matches.
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With his sixth goal of the postseason, Logan Stankoven tied Matt Boldy and Brandon Hagel for the leaguewide lead. Both Boldy and Hagel have played one more game than Stankoven.
Out of 14 goals scored by the Hurricanes this postseason, 10 of them have had at least one player of the second line (Stankoven, Blake, Hall) on the scoresheet.
Notching his 24th postseason win with the Hurricanes, Andersen surpassed Cam Ward for most playoff wins in franchise history. Additionally, with his fourth postseason shutout with the Hurricanes, Andersen tied Ward for the most in franchise history. Rock on, Freddie.
Also Read:: Full Hurricanes-Flyers Round Two Schedule and How to Watch
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