The Carolina Hurricanes may have swept the Ottawa Senators in the first round, but it was not without a fight. They are in for another heavyweight bout as they take on the Philadelphia Flyers next. A large part of the Hurricanes’ success can be pinpointed to their longtime goalie, Frederik Andersen. He has allowed the lowest average of 1.1 goals per game this postseason. Andersen has turned in vintage performances repeatedly and will be a key to success for Carolina if they are to take care of business against Philadelphia.

Carolina’s Logan Stankoven notched at least one point in each game, but the offensive firepower does not stop with him because the ‘Canes also feature Sebastian Aho and Taylor Hall. Aho had the most points for them during the regular season, and he has continued helping set the tone in the playoffs. Hall, the former Hart Trophy winner, leads the team in points during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He will look to continue on that impressive pace in the Semi-Finals.

The Flyers won the Battle of Pennsylvania against the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games to have an opportunity against the Hurricanes. Philadelphia’s goalie, Dan Vladar, made many unbelievable saves to keep them ahead, and he must recreate those saves against Carolina. Vladar may be playing through an injury after the Penguins’ Bryan Rust crashed into him and tweaked his right arm in Game 3. The Flyers collectively have been playing like the Broad Street Bullies 2.0 because of how physical and intimidating they have been.

NHL on TNT analyst Paul Bissonnette, also known as “Biz Nasty,” referred to the Flyers as playing “scumbag hockey,” which the city and players have embraced. No player on the Flyers exemplifies “scumbag hockey” more than their captain, Sean Couturier. He has laid on the hits against the opposition and looks to continue that versus Carolina. Rookie Porter Martone, who was playing college hockey just a few weeks ago, has made a huge difference in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for Philadelphia. He has scored two game-winning goals already, and the Hurricanes will have to find an answer for him.

Prediction

It will be another highly physical and penalty box-filling matchup for Carolina and Philadelphia in the second round. Both teams will give their best effort, but it will be Andersen and the ‘Canes who take care of Couturier and the scumbag Flyers in six games to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.