As he entered this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs, Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen had something to prove.
It wasn’t about his ability per se, as the 12-year veteran has shown an ability to put up solid individual stats in the regular season and the playoffs. But what has consistently eluded Andersen is turning that into actual post-season success.
Andersen has had health problems that prevented him from making lengthy playoff runs and playing most of the regular season in recent years. Those health concerns popped up again when Andersen left Game 4 in a first-round series against the New Jersey Devils and missed Game 5 with an undisclosed injury.
However, since coming back, he is seizing the moment and imposing his will as a legitimate difference-maker.
Andersen’s performance against the Devils in the first round and against the Washington Capitals in Round 2 has been tremendous. He’s posted one shutout against the Caps, and overall, his goals-against average of 1.32 and his save percentage of .940 have set the bar for his counterparts.
"That's what goaltending does, it kept us in the game," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour told reporters about Andersen’s 21-save shutout against the Capitals in Game 3.
"It might have been one of the better games he’s played for us, just with the magnitude of the game, what it means, and how that impacted it the way he played.”
Added Canes left winger Jack Roslovic: "If it weren't for Freddie, (Game 3) could have been different."
Andersen has out-duelled Caps goalie Logan Thompson (2.26 GAA, .922 SP), but Thompson hasn’t been terrible. He’s just losing out to a better goalie in Andersen right now. With Andersen continuing to thrive, Washington and Thompson have no alternative but to ratchet up their overall game to match what Andersen has been doing throughout this series if they hope to eliminate Carolina.
For most of his career, Andersen has been well above average in the playoffs. But last year was a different story, as he posted an .895 SP and 2.62 GAA in 10 appearances. His .899 this regular season wasn’t great, either. That’s why this year’s playoff performance so far really stands out for Andersen.
Finally, he’s looking like he can put all the puzzle pieces together, and he’s already been rewarded for it, signing in early May a one-year, $2.75-million contract extension that begins next season.
At 35 years old, Andersen knows he may not get many more legitimately solid opportunities to win a Cup. And he seems to know it.
He hasn’t been in the conference final since 2014-15 with the Anaheim Ducks, and there’s an urgency to make this opportunity count. Andersen now has to show he can close things out and set himself up for the most important hockey he’ll likely ever play.
If he continues thwarting his opponents’ offensive aspirations, Andersen could very well be in the hunt for the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs’ most valuable player. He’s been that good, and if he can maintain that elite consistency, Andersen and the Hurricanes could wind up hoisting the Cup in the very near future.
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