The Hurricanes head to Xfinity Mobile Arena with a 2-0 stranglehold on the second round and a perfect playoff record still intact. The Flyers are home, finally, but home ice doesn't mean much when you've been outscored, outshot, and out-goaltended through two games.
Frederik Andersen is the story until somebody actually beats him. He's sitting on a .958 save percentage and a 12.53 GSAx through 6 playoff games, which is the kind of number that ends seasons. Logan Stankoven, Jackson Blake and Taylor Hall keep humming on the other end. Carolina's recipe right now is brutally simple: bury early chances, let Andersen close the door.
Philly's hole got deeper on Tuesday when Noah Cates was ruled out for the rest of the series with a lower-body injury. That's a top-9 center and a primary penalty killer gone against a Hurricanes group that already owns the matchup. Dan Vladar has done what he can in net, but he's been buried in shot volume both games.
- Injured ReserveRodrigo Abols C — Abols' injury is a fractured right ankle, Kevin Kurz of The Athletic reports Wednesday.
- OutNikita Grebenkin RW — out
The market sees the script clearly. Carolina is laying -1.5 at -192 on the puck line, the moneyline sits at -162, and the total is parked at a tight 5.0 with the under priced up. That's a book telling you Andersen is more likely to pitch another low-event game than the Flyers are to suddenly find offense.
If Philly is going to stretch this series, tonight is the night. Push the pace, get pucks and bodies to Andersen, and steal a power play or two. Otherwise the Canes leave town with a 3-0 stranglehold and a sweep on the table Saturday.