Apr 22, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; New Jersey Devils right wing Timo Meier (28) shot is stopped by Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) during the third period in game two of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. (James Guillory-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/a512bf2f-b782-4148-9dfa-c8412cded170.jpeg] Apr 22, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; New Jersey Devils right wing Timo Meier (28) shot is stopped by Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) during the third period in game two of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. (James Guillory-Imagn Images) The Carolina Hurricanes have jumped out to a 2-0 series lead in their first round series against the New Jersey Devils and a big part of that is due to the play of netminder Frederik Andersen. The Danish netminder has played some of his best hockey to date since coming to Carolina in 2021, and he's put the Canes in a very comfortable position as the series heads to New Jersey. Overall, Andersen is leading the postseason in save percentage (0.960) and goals saved above expected (5.09). At 5v5, the Canes goalie has allowed just a single goal through two games, posting a 0.974 save percentage and he also hasn't allowed a power play goal against yet, having eight shorthanded saves. "He's always been a brick wall back there and for him, I'm sure it's nice to have that consistency of just knowing he's the guy right now," said alternate captain Jaccob Slavin following a 3-1 Game 2 victory [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/game-day/its-the-funnest-time-of-the-year-rod-brindamour-shayne-gostisbehere-jaccob-slavin-frederik-andersen-jordan-martinook]. "He played great for us tonight and was the reason we won the game." "He's superb," said Shayne Gostisbehere. "I mean, there's no other word for it. It's pretty comfortable when you know you have a third line of defense back there." Every game in the postseason is typically chaotic and full of emotion and a lot of momentum can swing on those big moments. But Andersen brings a calming presence to the Canes, allowing the group to keep a focused, level head. "You see his demeanor," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "Whether he has a great game or a game which he'd like to have back, it's kind of... you'd never know. It's just very, very calm and I think just the way he plays in net is very calming too. In these moments, especially, when it's very chaotic, stressful, it doesn't really feel like it with him in net." "That's just Freddie on a day-to-day basis," Martinook said on Andersen's calming presence. "Obviously in the net he's calm and collected. It seems like the plays going 100 miles per hour and he's just back there doing his thing. You see the guys in front of him jumping around, trying to do everything and he's just sitting back there. Obviously we know he's competing as hard as he can, but his demeanor is calm and it definitely helps us out there too." Andersen hasn't had an easy career as of late, dealing with a multitude of injuries and health concerns over the past seasons from a blood-clotting issue [https://thehockeynews.com/carolina-hurricanes/frederik-andersen-triumphs-over-diagnosis-returns-to-nhl-with-win] last season that nearly robbed him of his career and then this year, he had to have another knee surgery [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/hurricanes-frederik-andersen-to-undergo-knee-surgery-on-friday]. "It's been a tough one," Brind'Amour said on Andersen's journey. "Any athlete that has a tough time with health or real issues... he probably had a lot of doubt, but it's obviously great to see him the way he's bounced back and played so far." But 'Freddie' doesn't concern himself with the past. The veteran is instead just focused on the moment. It's what he's always done. "I try not to think too much about it and try to just enjoy the moment and be ready when called upon," Andersen said. "The biggest thing for a goalie, and any player, is to focus on what's in front of you. The next shift or the next chance you get or whatever it is. I just try to be in the moment and do my best and trust that your abilities are good enough to have success." There was a lot of concern heading into the season, not only on Andersen's ability to bounce back and once again play at a high level, but also his durability for a potential postseason run. But two games in, the first times he's started consecutive games since last postseason, he's looking to be a true difference maker. "We brought him in here to be that guy," Brind'Amour said. "It's early in the playoffs here and so are we going to keep doing this? We'll see how he feels and gauge everything. I think we know that we have to watch it with him because he hasn't had a bunch of workload, but also, that's a bonus too. That he hasn't played that much this year. He's maybe the freshest guy out there." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be sure to check out the Carolina Hurricanes 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Hub [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/latest-news/carolina-hurricanes-2025-stanley-cup-playoffs-hub] for all postseason stories! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwmeDfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] to never miss a story.
