Frederik Andersen made 22 saves and Logan Stankoven had a goal and an assist as the Carolina Hurricanes overcame a slow start to defeat the Ottawa Senators 2-0 in Game 1 of the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs Saturday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C.

Taylor Hall also scored and Jackson Blake was credited with two assists for the Hurricanes, who are the top-seeded team in the conference.

Linus Ullmark made 27 saves for the Senators, who met the Hurricanes for the first time in the postseason.

The Hurricanes chose to go with the 36-year-old Andersen instead of record-setting rookie Brandon Bussi in net. Andersen was up to the task.

“Freddie has got a track record and guys are aware of what he’s capable of,” said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour.

The 13-year veteran registered his sixth career playoff shutout after not recording a shutout during 35 regular-season outings this season. His playoff career record improved to 47-35, which includes a shutout last May versus the Florida Panthers.

“They didn’t give up too many Grade-A’s,” said Ottawa coach Travis Green. “They were on their toes, for sure.”

The game began with captains Brady Tkachuk of Ottawa and Jordan Staal of Carolina drawing fighting majors off the opening faceoff.

The Hurricanes, normally a team with a high volume of shots, didn’t put a shot on goal in the game’s first 12 minutes. Then they fired the next six shots.

By the end of the scoreless first period, Carolina held an 7-5 edge in shots on goal despite Ottawa going on the lone power play.

Though the Hurricanes finished 0-for-5 on power plays, they scored in the second and third periods at even strength.

Stankoven’s goal came 2:11 into the second period, with assists going to Blake and Hall. Hall scored in a scramble in front of the net 7:15 into the third period.

The Senators posted seven shots in the first seven minutes of the third period, exceeding their shot numbers from each of the first two periods. They had nine total shots entering the third period.

Yet Carolina had three power plays across a third-period stretch, including some time on a 5-on-3 advantage, and didn’t score.

The Senators pulled Ullmark late in the third period, then went on a power play with 2:35 remaining. But Andersen saved three shots and his teammates blocked five others to preserve the shutout.

“Guys giving it all they had,” Brind’Amour said. “There was not a lot of room and (guys were) fighting for everything.”

Game 2 will be Monday night in Raleigh.

“We’re going to watch the tape and try to make a few adjustments,” Green said.

–Field Level Media