The Carolina Hurricanes will face the Ottawa Senators in round one of the playoffs, with the schedule now set. Both teams share a similar offensive-heavy playing style, making for an exciting matchup.
Key points
Carolina Hurricanes face Ottawa Senators in playoffs
Schedule for round one games has been set
Both teams have similar offensive-heavy playing styles
Hurricanes rank 2nd in shots on goal, Senators 9th
Hurricanes rank 1st in fewest shots against, Senators 3rd
Carolina HurricanesOttawa Senators
Playoff Primer: Full Hurricanes-Senators Round One Schedule, How to Watch, and Matchup Breakdown
James Guillory-Imagn Images
The schedule for the Carolina Hurricanesâ round one playoff games against the Ottawa Senators has been set, and the excitement is high coming off the heels of one of the Hurricanesâ best seasons on record.
How do the Hurricanes and Senators Playing Styles Matchup
Interestingly, the Hurricanes and Senators both utilize a very similar playing style. Prioritizing an offensive-heavy approach, they both focus on outworking their opponent in all three zones â but especially the offensive zone. Both teams are in the top 10 leaguewide for most shots on goal (Hurricanes 2nd, Senators 9th), and in the top three for fewest shots against (Hurricanes 1st, Senators 3rd).
With that being said, the Hurricanes lead the Senators in most general statistics and analytics, with the exception of shooting percentage (as expected due to the Hurricanesâ higher volume of shots on goal), and allowing more high-danger chances against.
Hurricanes Goaltending vs. Senators Goaltending
In goaltending, the Hurricanes and Senators have both done well as of late.
For Ottawa, Linus Ullmark has notably improved since his leave of absence in late December. Before it, he was 14-9-5, with just a .881 save percentage. Since returning, he has notched a 14-4-3 record and a .904 save percentage.
Additionally, James Reimer has proven to be a solid backup since his signing during Ullmarkâs absence, helping to gain 16 valuable points in the standings in 13 games played throughout the season.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes have relied on the consistency of first-year NHLer, Brandon Bussi, to push them through injuries and slumps, where he earned a 31-6-2 record â tying for fourth most goalie wins leaguewide this season. After the Olympic break, he had a bit of a cold streak compared to what he had been producing, but even still, he went 8-3-1 in those games.
Q&A
What is the schedule for the Hurricanes vs Senators playoff games?
The full schedule for the Hurricanes-Senators round one playoff games has been officially released.
How can I watch the Hurricanes vs Senators playoff series?
Fans can find viewing options for the Hurricanes-Senators playoff series through various broadcasting channels and streaming services.
What are the strengths of the Hurricanes and Senators in this matchup?
Both teams excel in offensive play, ranking high in shots on goal and low in shots against, indicating a strong defensive and offensive strategy.
When did the Hurricanes have one of their best seasons?
The Hurricanes are coming off one of their best seasons on record, which adds to the excitement of their playoff matchup against the Senators.
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As for Frederik Andersen, the Olympics did him well, giving him a much-needed reset after his own cold streak began in early November. Prior to the Olympics, he posted a 7-10-5 record, but after putting up a great effort for Team Denmark, he finished the rest of the NHL season 9-4-0.
Statistically, the Hurricanes have the edge on the Senators, but there is no denying that both teams didnât just survive a great deal of adversity in net but thrived despite it.
How Did the Hurricanes Fare Against the Senators in the Season Series?
In the three games played between the Hurricanes and Senators, the Hurricanes won two. However, those wins did not come easily.
January 24th â Hurricanes win 4-1
In their first meeting, the Hurricanes were outworked and outshot as they allowed 37 shots on goal (59 total shot attempts), and only put up 19 shots on goal (44 total shot attempts). The Senators kept the edge in physicality, nailing them with 34 hits to their 12, and also owned the faceoff dot for the most part, with the Hurricanes only winning a mere 32.1% of faceoffs. Ultimately, it was Bussi who saved their bacon, playing arguably the best game of his NHL career thus far, notching his highest save percentage in a single game (excluding his two shutouts, where he made 16 saves in each).
February 3rd â Hurricanes win 4-3
The second meeting was a similar story, as the Senators still outshot them 27-19, and put up 54 shot attempts to their 50. However, the Hurricanes threw around the body more than in the previous game, landing 20 hits to their 27, and improved in their faceoffs, making things an even 50-50. Additionally, they also saw an uptick in offensive zone starts, dropping the puck 61.4% of the time in the Senatorsâ zone, as opposed to the previous matchâs 32.5%. The score was much closer, but still in the Hurricanesâ favor.
April 5th â Senators win 6-3
In their latest meeting, the Hurricanes did not have a great time against the Senators, who defeated them 6-3. They saw another loss in the dots, as they only won 39.1% of their draws. However, they brought a stronger offensive effort, putting up 28 shots to the Senatorsâ 31, and made 64 shot attempts to the Senatorsâ 56, as well as out-hitting Ottawa 30-28. Ultimately, the Senators blocked 22 of those shots.
The Hurricanes had three disadvantages in the game, however.
First off, they lacked both Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook from the lineup, as they were being rested. Secondly, they were on the second half of a back-to-back, going from a 7:00 PM puck drop to a 5:00 PM puck drop, which included travel. Finally, they had just clinched a playoff spot the night before, and as such, did not have to meet the same desperation level the Senators displayed.
Round One Schedule and Broadcasting Information
All of the Hurricanesâ round one games will be broadcast by the local team on FanDuel Sports Network South, in addition to national broadcasts. However, it will likely be the final time we will ever see broadcasts from FDSNSO, as it is expected to shut down indefinitely at the conclusion of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Game 1
When: Saturday, April 18th, 3:00 PM EDT
Where: Raleigh, N.C. | Lenovo Center
How to Watch: ESPN, FDSNSO, SN, OMNI, TVAS
Game 2
When: Monday, April 20th, 7:30 PM EDT
Where: Raleigh, N.C. | Lenovo Center
How to Watch: ESPN2, FDSNSO, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS
Game 3
When: Thursday, April 23rd, 7:30 PM EDT
Where: Ottawa, Ontario | Canadian Tire Centre
How to Watch: TBS, HBO MAX, FDSNSO, SN, CBC, TVAS
Game 4
When: Saturday, April 25th, 3:00 PM EDT
Where: Ottawa, Ontario | Canadian Tire Centre
How to Watch: TBS, TruTV, HBO MAX, FDSNSO, SN, TVAS, OMNI
Game 5 (if necessary)
When: Monday, April 27th, TBD
Where: Raleigh, N.C. | Lenovo Center
How to Watch: TBD, FDSNSO
Game 6 (if necessary)
When: Thursday, April 30th, TBD
Where: Ottawa, Ontario | Canadian Tire Centre
How to Watch: TBD, FDSNSO
Game 7 (if necessary)
When: Saturday, May 2nd, TBD
Where: Raleigh, N.C. | Lenovo Center
How to Watch: TBD, FDSNSO
