Canes, Sens Set to Clash in Round 1 Opener

Carolina and Ottawa square off in Game 1 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Apr. 18, 2026 at 9:00am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting in vibrant blues, reds, and greens, depicting the overlapping action and energy of a hockey game between the Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators.The first-round playoff clash between the top-seeded Hurricanes and the surging Senators promises an intense, high-stakes battle on the ice.Chicago Today

The Carolina Hurricanes begin their postseason journey at home as they host the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. The Canes finished the regular season as the Eastern Conference's top seed, while the Sens clinched a Wild Card spot. Both teams had success against each other in the regular season, setting up an intriguing matchup to open the playoffs.

Why it matters

This series represents a clash between two of the Eastern Conference's top teams. The Hurricanes are looking to build on their franchise-record eighth straight playoff appearance, while the Senators aim to continue their strong second-half surge and pull off an upset. The outcome of this series could set the tone for the rest of the Canes' playoff run.

The details

The Hurricanes and Senators split their three regular-season meetings, with each team winning at home. Carolina's power play, which finished fourth in the NHL, will look to take advantage of Ottawa's struggling penalty kill (29th in the league). In net, the Canes are expected to start veteran Frederik Andersen in Game 1, though Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov could also see time during the series.

  • The game is scheduled for Saturday, April 18 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
  • The Hurricanes finished the regular season with a 53-22-7 record (113 points), winning the Metropolitan Division and earning the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
  • The Senators posted a 44-27-11 record (99 points) and clinched a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

The players

Frederik Andersen

The veteran goaltender for the Carolina Hurricanes, who is expected to start Game 1 of the series.

Brandon Bussi

The Hurricanes' backup goaltender, who had a strong finish to the regular season and could see time in the series.

Pyotr Kochetkov

The Hurricanes' third goaltender, who is working his way back from a lower-body injury and could provide a new dimension to the team's crease as the playoffs progress.

Linus Ullmark

The Senators' starting goaltender, who posted a .891 save percentage during the regular season, the lowest of his 11-year career.

Rod Brind'Amour

The head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, who will lead his team in their quest for a deep playoff run.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must be ready for a tough matchup against the Senators. They've shown they can beat us, and we'll need to be at our best to advance.”

— Rod Brind'Amour, Head Coach, Carolina Hurricanes

“Our penalty kill will need to be much better if we want to have a chance in this series. The Canes' power play is one of the best in the league.”

— Linus Ullmark, Goaltender, Ottawa Senators

What’s next

The winner of this series will advance to the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The takeaway

This first-round matchup between the top-seeded Hurricanes and the Wild Card-qualifying Senators promises to be an exciting and closely contested series. Both teams have shown the ability to beat each other during the regular season, setting the stage for a hard-fought playoff battle.