Carolina won because Frederik Andersen stopped all 22 Ottawa shots while CAR's physical forecheck β 57 hits to Ottawa's 39 β suppressed any sustained offensive structure.
β‘TURNING POINT
Hall's even-strength goal at 7:15 of the third doubled the lead and eliminated Ottawa's capacity to play conservative hockey β they now needed two goals against a goalie who had yet to concede. A one-goal deficit invites patience; a two-goal deficit forces Ottawa to open up and chase, removing whatever tactical discipline had kept them within reach through 47 minutes.
πWHY CAR WON (ranked by impact β most decisive first)
1
Goaltending: Andersen stopped all 22 shots, allowing zero goals β on a 22-shot workload, any average performance still concedes roughly two, making his contribution the foundational difference in a 2-0 game.
2
Physical Dominance: Hits 57 vs. 39 β Carolina's forecheck created sustained offensive-zone pressure, generating a 29β22 shot advantage and limiting Ottawa's ability to establish puck possession.
3
Line Execution: StankovenβHallβBlake combined for all 4 points, with Stankoven and Hall each posting 6 and 5 shots on goal respectively β Carolina concentrated its offense through one line and finished both chances.
πWHY OTT LOST (ranked by impact β biggest failure first)
1
Offensive Conversion: 22 shots, 0 goals β Ottawa generated volume but could not solve Andersen across 60 minutes.
2
Giveaways: 15 giveaways vs. CAR's 14 β Ottawa's puck management under Carolina's physical pressure surrendered possession repeatedly in dangerous areas.
3
Special Teams Failure: 0-for-6 on the power play β Ottawa had six opportunities with the man advantage and converted none, eliminating the most direct route to equalizing against a team conceding nothing at even strength.
Three Stars
Frederik Andersen1st
CAR, G
SV% 1.00022 saves
A perfect shutout against a playoff-caliber opponent provided the margin that made Carolina's two even-strength goals sufficient to win decisively.
Logan Stankoven2nd
CAR, C
1G 1A2 points6 shots on goal+26 hits
Stankoven drove both Carolina goals and was their most dangerous individual threat while also contributing physical engagement.
Taylor Hall3rd
CAR, L
1G 1A2 points5 shots on goal+2
Hall's third-period goal delivered the two-goal cushion that closed the game as a contest.
