Preview: Round 1, Game 4 at Ottawa

OTTAWA - The Carolina Hurricanes will try to punch their ticket to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs when they take on the Ottawa Senators in Game 4 of their first-round series on Saturday.

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When: Saturday, April 25

Puck Drop: 3:00 p.m. ET

Watch: TBS, truTV, HBO Max, FanDuel Sports Network South, FanDuel Sports Network App | Learn More

Listen: 99.9 The Fan, Hurricanes App

Series: 3-0 CAR

The Series So Far...

• Game 1: Frederik Andersen turned in a 22-save shutout, backstopping the Canes to a 2-0 victory.
• Game 2: Jordan Martinook played hero, scoring in double overtime to take a 2-0 series lead.
• Game 3: Logan Stankoven scored for a third straight game and Frederik Andersen turned in another strong performance for a 2-1 victory.

Ooo, It's So Stanky...

• Logan Stankoven started the scoring for a third consecutive game on Thursday, becoming the second player in NHL history to score the game-opening goal in each of their team’s first three games of a postseason. Joining George Armstrong (3 GP in 1956 w/ TOR), he also matched Pat Verbeek (3 GP in 1991) for the longest postseason-opening goal streak in Hurricanes/Whalers history.
• After ending the regular season on a career-best eight-game point streak, the 23-year-old has continued playing the same way he has all season and is being rewarded with record production, now posting 10 goals and five assists over his last 11 games (regular season + postseason).

In Net...

• Rod Brind'Amour didn't fully commit to going back to Frederik Andersen for a fourth consecutive game on Friday, but he did say, "I'm hoping he feels pretty fresh and we keep going to him." Conversely, the head coach said that if the veteran netminder needs a rest, they would have that discussion. Allowing just three goals in the first three games of the series, he's looked every bit of an ace en route to the 3-0 series lead.
• Should Andersen need a break, Brandon Bussi would likely be the guy. The 27-year-old wrapped up the regular season on a heater, following up his first set of consecutive losses (0-3-0) with a 6-0-1 run and allowing two or fewer goals in four of those wins. If and when he appears this postseason, it'll be his Stanley Cup Playoff debut.
• Pyotr Kochetkov's surprising return to the active roster could add a new dimension to the Canes' crease as the playoffs roll on, but Brind'Amour indicated that, while he is healthy, the Russian backstop was not yet a viable starting option.

On The Other Side...

• With their season on the line, the Senators will be without two of their top defensemen. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Head Coach Travis Green ruled out both Artem Zub and Jake Sanderson from today's action, with Zub still nursing an injury he picked up in Game 1 and Sanderson missing time due to a concussion sustained in Game 3. Sanderson was one of just two Senators with multiple points this postseason.
• Captain Brady Tkachuk blamed Thursday's loss on the team's struggling power play, which is now 0-for-12 in the series. Ottawa's penalty kill, meanwhile, has simultaneously stymied Carolina's man-advantage units, limiting the Canes to one power-play goal on 10 opportunities in the playoffs.
• Drake Batherson tallied the Sens' only goal in Game 3, scoring for the second time in as many games. With just five skaters finding the scoresheet thus far, the home club will certainly look for more out of its stars like Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle in a do-or-die Game 4.

Injury Updates...

• The Canes currently do not have any injuries to report.

What Are We Wearing?

• The Canes will wear their WHITE uniforms for the contest. They will wear white for every road game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

What's Next After This Game?

• Regardless of today's result, the Canes will fly back to Raleigh immediately post-game.
• If the team wins, they're scheduled to be off on Sunday and will await information regarding their Round 2 opponent and schedule.
• If the Senators take today's game, the Canes are scheduled to practice on Sunday and will host Game 5 at Lenovo Center on Monday night.
• Next Game (IF NECESSARY): Monday, April 27 | Round 1, Game 5 vs. Ottawa (if necessary) | Time TBD | How To Watch | Tickets | Parking