Overview
- Carolina opened the series Saturday with a 2-0 win in Raleigh as Frederik Andersen stopped 22 shots for his sixth playoff shutout.
- Coach Rod Brind’Amour chose Andersen for his experience over Brandon Bussi, a call he said was based on confidence in the veteran’s playoff readiness.
- A potential Ottawa tying goal in the third period was waved off after video review showed the puck never fully crossed the goal line.
- The game set a bruising tone when captains Brady Tkachuk and Jordan Staal fought three seconds after the opening faceoff.
- Ottawa lost top-pair defenseman Artem Zub to an undisclosed injury, and the team expects an update Sunday before Game 2 on Monday in Raleigh.