The Hurricanes extended their postseason-opening winning streak to seven games and became just the third team in the past 30 years to do so as they moved within one victory of the Eastern Conference Final.
* Frederik Andersen tied the Hurricanes/Whalers record for the longest playoff winning streak and became just the second goaltender born outside of North America to begin a postseason with seven consecutive victories.
* The Ducks look to stay undefeated at home in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs when they welcome the Golden Knights for Game 3, while the Canadiens aim to strike even in their Second Round series with the Sabres.
ANDERSEN, HURRICANES EXTEND WIN STREAK EN ROUTE TO 3-0 SERIES LEAD
Jordan Staal (1-1—2) factored on two of his team’s four goals, including Jalen Chatfield’s shorthanded game winner, while Frederik Andersen made 18 saves to lift the Hurricanes to their seventh consecutive victory – tied for their longest winning streak in franchise history – and within one win of the Conference Finals. Carolina owns an all-time series record of 4-0 when leading a best-of-seven series 3-0.
* The Hurricanes became the 13th team in NHL history to record a postseason-opening winning streak of seven or more games and just the third in the past 30 years, following the 2024 Rangers and the 2008 Penguins. Three of Carolina’s seven wins have come as the visitor, marking just the third time in franchise history the club has earned a victory in each of their first three road games to start a postseason, after doing so in 2006 (4 GP) and 1986 (3 GP).
* Andersen became the second goaltender born outside North America to record a postseason-opening winning streak of seven-plus games, joining Igor Shesterkin (7 GP in 2024), and tied Cam Ward (7 GP in 2006) for the longest playoff winning streak in franchise history (at any point). With the help of Andersen, the Hurricanes have allowed only eight goals through their first seven games of the playoffs – they are one of only five teams in the expansion era (since 1967-68) to allow eight or fewer goals through that game count to start a postseason, following the 2002 Senators (5 GA), 2004 Lightning (6 GA), 1969 Blues (7 GA) and 1994 Rangers (8 GA).
DAHLIN, MAKAR, WERENSKI NAMED JAMES NORRIS TROPHY FINALISTS
Rasmus Dahlin, Cale Makar and Zach Werenski are the three finalists for the 2025-26 James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded “to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position.” Click here to read more.
QUICK CLICKS
* NHLStats: Live Updates – May 7, 2026
* Rasmus Dahlin rewarded with Norris nomination in trying season for Sabres veteran
* Nick Sirianni, Cooper DeJean ‘ignite the orange’ before Game 3
* Tuesday’s Wild-Avalanche match delivered the 2nd most-viewed R2 Game 2 ever on cable
* The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery on ESPN was the most-viewed on record
DUCKS LOOK TO REMAIN PERFECT AT HOME, CANADIENS HOPE TO EVEN SERIES,
A deadlocked series out west shifts to Anaheim as the Ducks and Golden Knights both look for a 2-1 series advantage, while the Canadiens aim to square their Second Round matchup with the Sabres in Game 2.
* After levelling the series in Game 2, the Ducks head back home to Honda Center where they are a perfect 3-0 so far in these playoffs. Anaheim looks to win each of its first four home games in a postseason for the third time in franchise history, following 2015 (6-0) and 2007 (4-0). Leo Carlsson (4-5—9 in 8 GP) scored the game-winning goal in Game 2 and is now on the precipice of his 10th career playoff point. He can become the third player in Ducks history to reach the mark in 10 or fewer games, after Jackson LaCombe (7 GP in 2026) and Paul Kariya (8 GP in 1997).
* Buffalo got the better of Montreal in its Second Round series opener, but the Canadiens look to bounce back with a win in Game 2. Montreal has earned a win following a loss three times in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs and a fourth such victory would be tied for the franchise’s fifth most in a single postseason. Captain Nick Suzuki was one of two Canadiens goal scorers in Game 1 and will look to extend his goal streak to three games. In doing so, he would also push his road goal streak to three games and become the first Canadiens player in the past 10 years with a run of that length.
