Stankoven, Andersen lead Hurricanes past Flyers 3-0 in Game 1 of 2nd-round series

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Logan Stankoven scored twice to continue his postseason tear and the Carolina Hurricanes smothered the Philadelphia Flyers in a 3-0 victory Saturday night to open the second-round series.

Jackson Blake also scored for Carolina, and Frederik Andersen stopped 19 shots for his second shutout of these playoffs and seventh in his postseason career.

Game 2 of the series is Monday night in Raleigh, with Carolina yet to trail in any of its five postseason games so far after jumping to a 2-0 first-period lead in this one.

“We had a good start, obviously,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “That’s what won the game.”

Carolina closed a first-round sweep of Ottawa last weekend, then had an extended break while the Flyers battled to push past Pittsburgh in overtime of Game 6 on Wednesday night. That led to rest-versus-rust conversations about how the Eastern Conference’s top seed would start Saturday night.

Instead, the Hurricanes pounced from the opening puck drop, a departure from how all four regular-season meetings went to overtime or a shootout.

Stankoven scored in each of the four wins against the Senators, then scored on a redirect from the slot just 1:31 in.

“I think you’re just trying to get it off quick,” Stankoven said. “Obviously, it’s nice to have that confidence that comes with putting the puck in the net, and yeah, you just kind of build off of it.”

Blake followed at 7:30, splitting two defenders as he entered the zone and charging in to slip a puck behind Dan Vladar.

That was more than enough offense on this night with the Flyers struggling to apply much pressure on Andersen — who opened the Ottawa series with a shutout, too.

“We definitely came ready to play,” Andersen said.

Philadelphia started its first postseason since 2020 by battling through Pittsburgh to close out a six-game series in overtime on Cam York’s Wednesday night winner. But the Flyers sputtered from the start, managing just nine shots on goal through two periods and being outshot 3-2 on their four power plays for the night.

Otherwise, they struggled to find much open ice with Carolina’s aggressive style closing in rapidly to shut down lanes toward Andersen or for the pass.

“We talked about it, we just didn’t live it on the ice,” Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said, pointing to a need to react quicker against Carolina’s pressure. “We weren’t quick enough for their speed. ... It’s a good baptism how some of our players are going to have to play.”

By the final 10 minutes, the game had turned testy with players having to be separated multiple times. That included 10-minute misconduct penalties on Philadelphia’s Trevor Zegras and Nick Seeler, along with Blake and Shayne Gostisbehere for Carolina.

Both teams were down key players. The Flyers didn’t have regular-season goals leader Owen Tippett because of an undisclosed injury, while the Hurricanes were missing defenseman Alexander Nikishin after he suffered a concussion in Game 4 against Ottawa.

Carolina veteran Mike Reilly drew in for Nikishin and had the primary assist on Stankoven’s first goal and the secondary assist on Blake’s score.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Carolina Hurricanes' Logan Stankoven speaks following Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Philadelphia Flyers' Sean Couturier, right, talks with referee Kelly Sutherland (11) during the third period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) is congratulated by Jaccob Slavin, left, following Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Philadelphia Flyers' Sean Couturier (14) collides with Carolina Hurricanes' Sean Walker (26) during the first period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) sends the puck wide of the net with Philadelphia Flyers' Trevor Zegras (46) and Tyson Foerster (71) watching during the first period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Philadelphia Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen (55) moves the puck past Carolina Hurricanes' Logan Stankoven (22) during the first period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal (11) lunges for the puck with Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (80) and Nick Seeler (24) nearby during the second period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Logan Stankoven (22) celebrates after his second goal with teammates Mike Reilly (6), Andrei Svechnikov, back right, and Seth Jarvis (24) during the second period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Philadelphia forward Owen Tippett sat out the Flyers’ 3-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night in Game 1 of the second-round playoff series.

The Flyers ruled out their regular-season goals leader about a half-hour before the start of the game due to an undisclosed injury.

Philadelphia struggled to generate much offense or sustain pressure on Carolina netminder Frederik Andersen, managing just nine shots on goal through two periods and being outshot 3-2 on its four power-play chances.

Tippett had 28 goals and 23 assists in the regular season, then had one goal and one assist in the six-game series against Pittsburgh that marked Philadelphia’s first postseason appearance since 2020.

The Flyers said Tippett is considered day to day.

The Hurricanes took the ice a week after closing out a sweep of Ottawa. But defenseman Alexander Nikishin was out of the lineup Saturday as he continues to recover from a concussion suffered on a jarring hit by Tyler Kleven in Game 4. Nikishin had returned to skating in a yellow no-contact jersey by Wednesday, then shed that practice Friday.

Coach Rod Brind’Amour said Saturday morning that Nikishin needed to complete another test as he works to clear the concussion protocol. Veteran Mike Reilly drew in for Nikishin, and had the primary assist on Logan Stankoven’s series-opening goal and the secondary assist on Jackson Blake’s score that gave Carolina a 2-0 first-period lead..

Carolina forward Nikolaj Ehlers was back after a lower-body injury made him a late scratch for Game 4.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin (21) is helped off the ice by teammates Seth Jarvis (24) and Shayne Gostisbehere (4) after being checked by Ottawa Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven during the second period of Game 4 in a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Philadelphia Flyers' Owen Tippett (74) and Luke Glendening (41) celebrate after the Flyers won Game 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs series Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)