Andersen makes 33 saves, Hurricanes edge Islanders in Game 1

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Frederik Andersen made 33 saves, including a highlight-reel stop early in the third period, for the Carolina Hurricanes in a 3-1 win against the New York Islanders in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round at PNC Arena on Saturday.

Andersen kept it tied 1-1 just 45 seconds into the third. After the goalie was knocked down in front by Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce, Noah Dobson's initial attempt hit the post, but as the defenseman gathered the rebound, Andersen lunged across to stop his shot from going into an open net.

“I think I just got clipped with someone’s skate,” Andersen said.  “Just kind of threw the technique book out the window and tried to come up with something to get close to the puck and get something on it.”

Andersen's performance was consistent with the form he's shown since returning on March 7 from a blood clotting issue that caused him to miss 50 games. He went 9-1-0 with a 1.30 goals-against average, .951 save percentage and three shutouts in his final 10 regular-season games.

“Unfortunately, he’s missed a lot of time, but this is what you get him for,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “He’s always been a great goalie, he’s just not been able to stay in there. Hopefully he can stay healthy because if he plays like that, it’s a huge, huge thing.”

Stefan Noesen gave Carolina a 2-1 lead at 3:44 of the third. Evgeny Kuznetsov's shot from the right point was redirected by Brady Skjei, and Noesen swatted the puck in with his backhand before it reached Semyon Varlamov.

“There’s no other way that I know how to do it,” Noesen said. “I’m not the pretty dingle-dangle guy out there. You just go to the net and try to find bounces.”

Skjei found himself in an unusual spot to contribute to the goal.

“I don’t find myself down there too much looking for a tip,” Skjei said. “I saw ‘Kuzy’ and I had a feeling he was going to shoot it, so I just went to the slot and got a stick on it. Obviously, it was a big finish by [Noesen].”

Kuznetsov and Martin Necas each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes, who are the No. 2 seed from the Metropolitan Division. Skjei had two assists.

“We weren’t great, that’s for sure,” Brind’Amour said. “[New York] is a perfect example of a team that’s been playing playoff hockey for a month [against] a team that hasn’t. As the game wore on, it started getting up to speed with how it’s going to be.”

Kyle MacLean scored, and Varlamov made 23 saves for the Islanders, who are the No. 3 seed from the Metropolitan.

Game 2 will be in Raleigh on Monday.

“[I am] encouraged because I think we played a really solid game,” New York coach Patrick Roy said. “It was a hard-fought game, but we had our chances. All year we’ve been resilient, and [this] is the moment to continue to do that.”

Kuznetsov gave the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 1:35 of the first period. He took a pass from Necas and roofed a shot over Varlamov's right shoulder with Noesen providing a screen in front.

“[Noesen] screened pretty good, and ‘Varly’ didn’t see the puck,” Kuznetsov said. “ That’s why I shot that puck.”

MacLean tied it 1-1 at 8:20 of the first. Anders Lee tipped Alexander Romanov’s shot from the left point, which trickled under Andersen's pads, and MacLean knocked in the rebound near the right post.

"It's the playoffs,” MacLean said. “There's a lot of adrenaline and a lot of excitement, so it was cool to help the team out there early. It was a cool experience getting my first one in [my first playoff game]."

After Noesen put the Hurricanes back in front, Kyle Palmieri had a chance during a power play to tie it again. He picked up a rebound near the left post and attempted to slide the puck around Andersen into an open net, but his chance hit off the post at 12:31.

Necas would go on to score an empty-net goal from center ice with 1:32 remaining for the 3-1 final.

"We played a simple hockey game. We created some pretty good looks because of that," Lee said. "Guys were smart with the puck all night, head up, making plays, we just didn't bury them.

"We played a solid game tonight."