Latest news with #LarsEller
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Andersen's steady play in net has the Hurricanes back in the Eastern final for 2nd time in 3 years
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) directs traffic against the Washington Capitals during the third period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Semi-final round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker) Carolina Hurricanes' Sean Walker (26) clears the puck away from goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) and Washington Capitals' Lars Eller (20) during the first period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Semi-final round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker) Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen, right, celebrates with defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (4) and defenseman Sean Walker (26) after Game 5 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Washington Capitals Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) stops the puck in the third period of Game 5 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Washington Capitals Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) stops the puck in the third period of Game 5 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Washington Capitals Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) directs traffic against the Washington Capitals during the third period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Semi-final round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker) Carolina Hurricanes' Sean Walker (26) clears the puck away from goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) and Washington Capitals' Lars Eller (20) during the first period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Semi-final round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker) Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen, right, celebrates with defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (4) and defenseman Sean Walker (26) after Game 5 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Washington Capitals Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) stops the puck in the third period of Game 5 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Washington Capitals Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Frederik Andersen has stayed as calmly consistent as it gets in the NHL playoffs. That's helped the Carolina Hurricanes make it back to the Eastern Conference final for the second time in three seasons. The 35-year-old veteran has the best save percentage and goals-against average in the postseason among goalies with multiple starts, notably by holding opponents to one or zero goals in six of his nine starts. He's coming off giving up six goals in five second-round games against the Washington Capitals, who posted the conference's best regular-season record and was second behind Winnipeg for the Presidents' Trophy. Advertisement 'He's just doing what we knew he could always do,' defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere said Saturday as the Hurricanes await the end of the Florida-Toronto series to learn their next opponent. 'He's been the backbone of our team for sure, all playoffs. And we've relied on him heavily in the sense he's making that big save for us that allows us to win these games.' Andersen has posted elite numbers so far. He's 7-2 with a 1.36 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage. No other starting goaltender has a sub-2.00 GAA in the playoffs entering the weekend. And he's been a perfect backstop for a defense that has smothered its first two foes. 'I just try to be as good as possible in every situation, and be in the moment in whatever comes in front of me and in whatever situation in the game,' Andersen said before the Hurricanes' Game 5 closeout of the Caps. "I don't get to decide how much we have the puck, how much they have the puck and how many times they shoot it. Advertisement 'I've just got to put myself in the best position to make saves in whatever situation comes.' Two things have stood out in Andersen's postseason through two rounds. One is how firmly he's grabbed the role of no-doubt, every-game starter in this postseason. 'He gave us the 'I want the net,' and that's all you need to hear,' coach Rod Brind'Amour said before Game 4 of the first-round series against New Jersey. The other has been his durability so far after health and injury issues of recent year. The only hiccup in these playoffs was an early exit in Game 4 against the Devils due to a hit by a skating-in Timo Meier that sidelined him for the Game 5 clincher, though a long break between rounds had him back in the crease for Game 1 against Washington. Advertisement He's had strong postseason stretches before, notably when the Hurricanes last reached the Eastern final in 2023 and his 1.83 GAA was second among goalies with multiple postseason starts. But the health issues had been more frequent, from him missing the 2022 playoffs due to a lower-body injury late in the regular season to appearing in just 16 regular-season games last season due to a blood-clotting issue. This year, he missed November, December and most of January due to knee surgery then returned as part of a rotation with 25-year-old Pyotr Kochetkov. 'I just kind of enjoy being out here," Andersen said. "I think that's one of the bigger things for me. You guys obviously know my history the last couple of years with some things that no one wants to have happen to you. You go through it and it's a good reminder of how precious this time you get to play the sport is.' Andersen's play has been an integral part of Carolina's elite defensive efforts through two rounds, fitting perfectly in with the Hurricanes' efforts to smother opponents with an aggressive forecheck, control the puck in the offensive zone to pressure defenders — and thereby minimize some of the chances Andersen has to stop. Advertisement To that point, Andersen has faced as many as 30 shots on goal only once in the postseason. The Capitals never managed more than 21 shots in any game, and had seven or fewer shots in 11 of 15 regulation periods. And he recently signed a one-year contract extension to return next season alongside Kochetkov. In the meantime, keeping Andersen fresh and healthy is a priority. After all, the Hurricanes are merely at the halfway point in their pursuit to win a second Stanley Cup, the other coming in 2006 with Brind'Amour as captain. 'When Freddie is in net, he's a stud and he's been a stud his whole career,' Carolina captain Jordan Staal said after Thursday's win in Washington. 'You guys always talk about his calmness and he's a rock, just makes things look easy.' ___ AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno in Washington contributed to this report. ___ AP NHL playoffs: and
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Denmark missing out on NHL stars Frederik Andersen, Lars Eller and Oliver Bjorkstrand for home World Championships
NHL (via Getty Images) Denmark will miss its NHL stars Frederik Andersen, Lars Eller, and Oliver Bjorkstrand playing at the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Herning and Malmö. This is a significant blow for the team since they are waiting to play at home. Not having these players is a marked difference from their 2018 home tournament, when some of the players returned to do national service. Denmark's chances will be influenced by injury or the NHL playoff series. NHL obligations and injuries keep top Danish players out of action before home campaign TOP SAVES FROM DAY 4 | 2025 #MensWorlds1B #IIHF With the Washington Capitals progressing to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, experienced forward Lars Eller is also devoted to his NHL team's playoff campaign and will not be participating with Denmark. Speaking in a statement with Danish media portal Eller stated, 'NHL players are only an option if their teams are not playing in the playoffs, so it is not relevant since we are still in it. I hope that Denmark will have a good tournament on home ice.' Oliver Bjorkstrand, now with the Tampa Bay Lightning after a midseason trade from the Seattle Kraken, was also ruled out — but for purely different reasons. The 29-year-old had a thigh injury on the eve of the playoffs, leading to internal bleeding in the muscle. 'Due to the injury, I won't be able to play in the World Championships this year. I won't be ready to play until three or four weeks from now,' Bjorkstrand confirmed. Tampa Bay was knocked out of the first round by the Florida Panthers, but the timing of the injury closed the door on any hope of the winger returning in May. Goaltender Frederik Andersen, whose Carolina Hurricanes' playoff eligibility has not been officially ruled out yet, is also out. Winnipeg Jets left winger Nikolaj Ehlers is out because of the playoffs or chronic fitness problems, and Denmark has all four of its current NHL players out. Denmark's May 9 World Championship opener in Herning The Danish national team starts its World Championship campaign on May 9 in Herning, a city of importance from their previous home tournament in 2018. Then, Denmark featured four NHL players on the roster, including Andersen and Bjorkstrand, with now-retired veterans Frans Nielsen and Mikkel Bødker. This time, the line-up will be based more on local league players and European-based talent. Despite the difficulties, the Danish Ice Hockey Union is confident of the environment and local support to be found on home ground. Also read: 2025 NHL Playoffs Round 1 results: Colorado Avalanche force Game 7 Even though the absence of NHL talent is a blow to Denmark's chances of making a deep run in the tournament, the World Championship still offers a rare opportunity for up-and-coming stars to shine on home ice and leave their mark at the international level.
