Andersen starts Game 6 in playoff debut with Hurricanes

Frederik Andersen started a playoff contest for the first time as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes in Friday's Game 6 overtime win against the New York Islanders.

Andersen made 33 saves in the 2-1 victory. He'd previously lost eight consecutive games when trying to clinch a series win.

The Dane had been unavailable during the series up to this point due to an illness and an undisclosed injury. Antti Raanta manned the crease for the first five contests, going 3-2 while posting a .906 save percentage and 2.59 goals against average.

Andersen is in his second season with the Hurricanes, but he didn't see any action in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs because of an MCL tear. Andersen admitted at the time that he was close to returning, and he might've been able to take over the crease if the team advanced to the Eastern Conference Final.

The 33-year-old hadn't played in the postseason since 2020 with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He entered Friday owning an all-time record of 27-23 in the playoffs to go with a .916 save percentage and 2.55 goals-against average.

He only got into 34 games this regular season, registering a .903 save percentage. He missed 29 contests due to a lower-body injury before the All-Star break.

Andersen and Raanta were a formidable tandem last campaign, taking home the 2022 William M. Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals against.

Andersen is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer after playing out the final season of a two-year, $9-million pact.

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