Staunch Defense: Nedeljkovic was a stud in net in Game 2, and the defense in front of him was stout, as well - and it's worth noting that the Canes were without Jaccob Slavin, too. In his absence, Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei saw elevated roles and minutes.
Pesce played a game high 28:01, and Skjei logged 27:44. Both players were on the ice for more than nine minutes of shorthanded play, and Skjei's 9:37 of shorthanded time on ice is the most of any NHL player in a regulation playoff game since the league began tracking the stat in 1997. Pesce posted five blocked shots and added another primary assist on Aho's empty-net tally. The Canes' blueliner now leads the team in scoring with three assists through the first two games.
"Right now, it's just about getting the win. Everybody wants to do well, but they're not always going to be pretty," Nedeljkovic said. "Tonight, there were a lot of sacrifices around the board. Guys were blocking shots, diving to make plays and getting pucks out. It wasn't our best, but it was a really good, gutsy effort."
Speaking of Slavin: The status of Slavin will be one to watch moving forward. Head coach Rod Brind'Amour said earlier in the week that Slavin "might be a game-time decision for a while here yet." The Canes' stalwart defenseman participated in the morning skate on Wednesday but was unable to play in Game 2. The team didn't practice on Thursday, so his availability for Game 3 remains unknown, but it's likely to be another wait-and-see situation.
Be Special: After a sterling 7-for-7 performance in Game 2, the Canes penalty kill improved to 10-for-10 in the series. The Canes' power play got on the board in Game 2 when Aho opened the scoring in the first period. Special teams is so often the difference in a hockey game, and it was no different on Wednesday night.
"You can't say enough about those guys. All the penalty killers, the goaltending," Brind'Amour said. "Pesce and Skjei in particular obviously had to step up tonight and did in a huge way. Incredible performances by those guys."
