RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes are not going quietly into the night.
Backed by a vintage playoff performance from Frederik Andersen and a clutch goal from rookie sensation Logan Stankoven, the Canes clawed their way out of an 0-3 hole with a 2-0 win over the New York Rangers Monday night—snapping a 20-year drought without a win in the Eastern Conference Final.
The crowd at PNC Arena was electric, and the Hurricanes fed off the energy from the opening puck drop. With elimination staring them in the face, Carolina delivered one of their most complete performances of the postseason.
Andersen Stands Tall
Frederik Andersen was nothing short of spectacular, turning away all 20 shots he faced to notch his fifth career playoff shutout—cementing his status as one of the most reliable netminders in the league when the stakes are highest. Whether it was a breakaway from Chris Kreider or a net-front scramble involving Mika Zibanejad, Andersen was calm, collected, and unbeatable.
“This was do or die,” Andersen said postgame. “I just wanted to give the guys a chance. They’ve been battling hard all series, and tonight we finally got rewarded.”
Stankoven Breaks Through
The moment of the night, though, belonged to 21-year-old Logan Stankoven. With just under seven minutes remaining in the second period, the rookie broke the deadlock by roofing a rebound past Igor Shesterkin after a relentless forecheck by Jordan Martinook and Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
The goal—Stankoven’s third of the playoffs—sent the crowd into a frenzy and gave the Canes a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“It’s a dream,” Stankoven said, grinning ear to ear. “I grew up watching playoff hockey, dreaming about scoring a goal like that. To help this team get our first win in the East Final in so long—unreal.”
Ending the Drought
Carolina hadn’t won a game in the Eastern Conference Final since 2006—the year they won the Stanley Cup. That streak ends now, and while the climb remains steep (the Rangers still lead the series 3-1), there’s renewed hope in Raleigh.
What’s Next?
The series now shifts back to Madison Square Garden for Game 5, and suddenly, the pressure starts to creep toward the Rangers. One more Hurricanes win, and this series goes from near-sweep to real danger.
Can the Canes keep the miracle run alive? One thing’s for sure—if Andersen stays locked in and young guns like Stankoven keep rising to the occasion, anything is possible.
Stay tuned. Carolina just made this series a whole lot more interesting