RALEIGH, N.C. — The Flyers will hope Game 1 was not an early indication of what’s to come in this best-of-seven second-round playoff series against the Eastern Conference’s top seed.
They were thoroughly outplayed Saturday night by the Hurricanes in a 3-0 loss at Lenovo Center.
Carolina pounced early and never let up. It took a 1-0 lead just 1:31 minutes into the game and padded the advantage just under six minutes later.
The Flyers were not sharp and couldn’t generate much. They also didn’t have Owen Tippett, who was out with an undisclosed injury. More on his status here.
The Flyers had just two days between the start of this series and their previous one ending. Rick Tocchet’s club won its first-round matchup over the Penguins in six games.
Rod Brind’Amour’s Hurricanes swept the Senators and had six days of no game action. So much for rust. They sure looked rested and like the best team in the East.
• Dan Vladar made 20 saves on 23 shots.
It felt like Carolina was in total control with a 2-0 lead and under four minutes to go during the second period. Logan Stankoven then delivered a dagger with his second goal of the night after Noah Juulsen committed a turnover in the defensive zone.
Stankoven’s game-opening marker came on an excellent redirection. Matvei Michkov had a giveaway under pressure that led to a wide-open point shot from Mike Reilly.
Jackson Blake cushioned the Hurricanes’ lead with an impressive play in transition. Rasmus Ristolainen did not make a good read when he pinched at the Flyers’ offensive blue line.
Vladar wasn’t perfect, but the Flyers really didn’t help him. The 28-year-old was coming off an outstanding first round in which he posted a 1.61 goals-against average, .937 save percentage and two shutouts.
Carolina netminder Frederik Andersen stopped all 19 of the Flyers’ shots.
The Flyers have scored just five goals over their last four games in these playoffs.
The Hurricanes played their trademark style of suffocating defense. The Flyers had a nightmarish time trying to create plays. They had little time and space and Carolina’s pressure made them sloppy.
• The Flyers had only two shots on their four power plays.
Their league-worst man advantage went just 2 for 17 in the first round, but it didn’t cost them.
Against a team like the Hurricanes, the Flyers must cash in on their power play from time to time.
• With the Flyers on the penalty kill late in the middle stanza, Travis Sanheim took a hard hit into the side boards as he tried to push the puck ice.
He appeared to be favoring his left leg as the horn sounded on the period. He skated off on his own and was able to start the third period.
That was a big relief for the Flyers. They can’t afford to lose their No. 1 defenseman.
• Things turned chippy with under eight and a half minutes left in the third period.
Trevor Zegras crosschecked Blake in the back when the Carolina winger was down. Zegras appeared bothered by Blake swinging his stick at him up high a few seconds prior.
• The series picks back up Monday with Game 2 at Lenovo Center (7 p.m. ET/ESPN).
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