Carolina Hurricanes (47-30-5, 4-1) HC: Rod Brind’Amour Top Performers: Sebastian Aho (29-45-74 +7), Seth Jarvis (32-35-67 +12), Andrei Svechnikov (20-28-48 –8), Jack Roslovic (22-17-39 –10), Jordan Martinook (15-21-36 +16), Jordan Staal (13-23-36 +15)
Top Defensive Pairings: Shayne Gostisbehere (7-38-45), Brent Burns (6-23-29 +7), Jaccob Slavin (6-21-27 +16), Dmitry Orlov (6-22-28 +16); Jalen Chatfield (7-11-18 +22)
Initial Thoughts: Defeated NJ in five games. Always gets a ton of shots, but are they dangerous? I really like this team, but I don’t think the goaltending tandem of Andersen and Kochetkov is going to get them a Stanley Cup. Yet, I still say the system of Rod Brind’Amour plays in the regular season, but the ECF is the best they can do in my opinion.
Washington Capitals: (51-22-9, 4-1) HC: Spencer Carbery Top Performers: Dylan Strome (29-53-82 +2), Alex Ovechkin 65 GP (44-29-73 +15), Pierre-Luc Dubois (20-46-66 +27), Alexei Protas (30-36-66 +40), Tom Wilson (33-32-65 +20), Connor McMichael (26-31-57 +19)
Top Defensive Pairings: John Carlson (5-46-51 +17), Jakob Chychrun (20-27-47 +17), Rasmus Sandin (4-26-30 +13),
Initial Thoughts: Defeated MTL in five games. To be honest, this organization alongside the affiliate of the Hershey Bears is one of the very best in the NHL. Other prospects, Ryan Leonard, (another Protas lol) are still coming. Carbery is remarkable behind the bench and now I have to see Logan Thompson as one of the best goaltenders in the league. I can’t doubt them anymore, even FLA-TOR will have their hands full with them.
Goaltending Matchup: Frederik Andersen (22 GP, 13-8-1, 2.50 GAA, .899 SV, 1 SO); Pyotr Kochetkov (47 GP, 27-16-3, 2.60 GAA, .897 SV, 2 SO) vs. Logan Thompson (43 GP, 31-6-6, 2.49 GAA, .910 SV, 2 SO); Charlie Lindgren (39 GP, 20-14-3, 2.73 GAA, .894 SV, 1 SO)
Series Summary:
Game 1: CAR wins 2-1. SOG 33-14 CAR, CAR had about 100 shot attempts. Protas scored for WSH. But Stankoven and Slavin (OT) help close it out. Logan Thompson 31 of 33 in the loss. Frederik Andersen 13 of 14 in the loss.
Game 2: WSH wins 3-1. McMichael, Carlson and Wilson all score. Logan Thompson steallar again as he stops 27 of 28 in the win. Andersen stops 18 of 20 in the loss.
Game 3: CAR wins 4-0. Svechnikov, Roslovic, Robinson and Blake all score. Andersen stops all 21 shots in the win. Thompson roughed up as he saves just 24 of 28.
Game 4: CAR wins 5-2. Gostisbehere, Jarvis leads CAR to a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes of play. First time a goal is scored in the first period. Hall, Sean Walker and Svechnikov (EN). Ovechkin does get on the board as far as a goal for the first time in this series.
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