3 Takeaways Following Hurricanes’ 4-2 Win to Sweep the Senators – The Hockey Writers – Carolina Hurricanes

For the eighth consecutive time, the Carolina Hurricanes won at least one round in the playoffs. They are the third team to do so, joining the 1984-93 & 1951-60 Montreal Canadiens and the 1973-81 Philadelphia Flyers. On Saturday, April 25, the Hurricanes swept the Ottawa Senators after winning Game 4, 4-2.

Takeaway #1: Series Sweep for Hurricanes

After a chaotic Game 4, seeing Alexander Nikishin leave early with an upper-body injury, the Hurricanes will move on to Round 2. They will wait for the winner of the Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins series. The series did not see the Senators have the lead once, and the Hurricanes were able to get some rest and gear up for the next round. There were many people picking the Senators to win the series as the “upset” pick. In the end, only two players scored for them, and their season has come to an end.

The Hurricanes’ power play went 1-for-5 in Game 4, while the penalty kill went 8-for-9 in a game that got away from the officials fast. Regarding the second period, it took over an hour of real time to finish. Tempers flared, and there were scrums after every whistle. After four goals from the Hurricanes, two empty netters from Sebastian Aho sealed the deal, and they are now four wins closer to the ultimate goal.

Takeaway #2: Penalty Kill Plays Big in Win

Game 4 had so many penalties that the penalty box people might have carpal tunnel from writing them all down. There was a point at which the Senators had eight power plays compared to the Hurricanes’ three. In the end, the Hurricanes’ penalty kill went 8-for-9 in the game and 18-for-19 in the series. If there was one aspect of their game that made this series end sooner than what people thought, the penalty kill for Carolina was it.

It was another masterclass by Jaccob Slavin showcasing why he is the best defensive defenseman in the NHL. Furthermore, it showed how crucial Jordan Staal, Jordan Martinook, and the others were not only in Game 4 but also in the series. Frederik Andersen was a force in the crease again, having a .926 save percentage in Game 4 following saving 25 of 27 shots. He started all four games and won them all. A total team effort from all fronts.

Takeaway #3: Second Line & Sebastian Aho Cash In

The second line, once again, for the Hurricanes made their impact felt in the series. While Logan Stankoven did score his fourth goal in four games, it was Taylor Hall who scored the first one of the game. Hall had a goal and an assist to go along with Stankoven’s goal to give that line three points in Game 4. Overall, those three points gave the line of Stankoven, Hall, and Blake a total of 16 through four playoff games.

Aho’s two empty net goals were huge as they sealed the win for the Hurricanes. Those two goals pushed his total to three through four games. When it mattered the most, it was the Hurricanes’ superstar to come in clutch to ice the game and secure the win. The two goals led to Aho earning the second star after Andersen’s first-star performance.

Now the Hurricanes will be waiting to see who they will face in Round 2 between the Flyers and Penguins. No matter if it’s a short or a long break, the Hurricanes punched their ticket to advance and keep the playoff run going. While Games 3 and 4 were intense, they found a way to dig deep on the road and got the job done. Four wins down, 12 to go.