Andersen sets Hurricanes franchise playoff shutout record

A little bit of history has been made by a player who is a key part of his team’s deep run in these Stanley Cup Playoffs.

In making 18 saves in a 4-0 victory in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Montreal Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen picked up his fifth career playoff shutout as a member of the Hurricanes, setting a new franchise record.

Andersen surpassed Cam Ward, the man who led Carolina to its first Stanley Cup in 2006, for the new mark. The Danish netminder also set a new team record with three shutouts in a single postseason. Ward had posted two shutouts in the 2006 and 2009 playoffs, while Kevin Weekes (2002) and Petr Mrazek (2019) also had multiple bagels in a single postseason. Andersen registered two shutouts last spring, which saw Carolina make it to the conference finals before being eliminated by the Florida Panthers.

The 36-year-old started these playoffs with a goose egg, making 22 saves in a Game 1 win over the Ottawa Senators last month. Then, in the first game of the Metropolitan Division Final against the Philadelphia Flyers, Andersen made 19 stops in a 3-0 victory. His play was part of a dominant start to the postseason for the Hurricanes, as the team became the first franchise under the current playoff format to sweep its first two series. Carolina didn’t lose until a disappointing 6-2 loss to the Canadiens in Game 1 last Thursday.

Andersen might not be the busiest goaltender in these playoffs, having only faced over 30 shots twice (both of those games went to overtime). However, the guy who had been criticized for not being a big-game netminder has been consistent. With an 11-1 record so far, Andersen has a goals-against average of 1.44, along with a .928 save percentage.

Andersen looks to help his team reach the final for the first time in 20 years. Game 5 is set for Friday night, with puck drop scheduled for a little after 8 p.m. ET.