Frederik Andersen’s performance in the playoffs has significantly enhanced his candidacy for the Conn Smythe Trophy. Leading the NHL with three shutouts this postseason, he has set a franchise record for career playoff shutouts with five, surpassing Cam Ward’s previous record of four.
Impressive Shutout Record
Andersen achieved a shutout during Game 4 against the Montreal Canadiens, stopping all 18 shots. His initial shutouts in Game 1 against the Ottawa Senators and Game 1 against the Philadelphia Flyers established his dominance early in both series.
Historic Road Success
He is now one of only five goalies to win his first six road games in a postseason. The list includes notable players like:
- Jonathan Quick (2012, Los Angeles Kings)
- Billy Smith (1980, New York Islanders)
- Sergei Bobrovsky (2023, Florida Panthers)
- Patrick Roy (1999, Colorado Avalanche)
In terms of goal differential, the Carolina Hurricanes have outscored opponents by 17 goals (36-19) while Andersen is in net. This statistic stands as the second-best among all goalies, following Carter Hart’s plus-19.
Quality Starts and Future Prospects
As for quality starts percentage—defined as starts where the save percentage exceeds .900—Andersen’s 66.7% lands just behind Hart at 75.0%. Currently, the Hurricanes have a commanding 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven series against the Canadiens.
If they advance, the Hurricanes would face the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. Should Andersen secure the Conn Smythe Trophy, he would join the ranks of the oldest winners, following Tim Thomas and Glenn Hall, both of whom won the award at 36 years old.
