Canes Defenseman Looks Ahead to Playoff Clash with Senators

K'Andre Miller discusses the team's regular season success and the challenges of the postseason ahead.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 12:55am

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A cubist, fragmented painting depicting the action and energy of a hockey game, with sharp geometric shapes and planes in the primary colors of the Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators.The upcoming playoff clash between the Hurricanes and Senators promises an intense, high-stakes battle as both teams vie for a chance to advance in the Stanley Cup chase.Today in Raleigh

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman K'Andre Miller spoke with ABC11 about the team's preparations for their first-round playoff series against the Ottawa Senators. Miller acknowledged that regular season success doesn't guarantee postseason triumph, and that the Hurricanes will need to bring their best effort each night to advance. The Hurricanes are the top seed in the Eastern Conference, but have fallen short of the Stanley Cup Finals in recent years despite their regular season dominance.

Why it matters

The Hurricanes have been one of the NHL's top teams over the past several seasons, but have yet to break through to the Stanley Cup Finals. This playoff run represents another opportunity for the franchise to take that next step and compete for a championship. The team's ability to translate regular season success into postseason wins will be closely watched by their passionate fanbase.

The details

The Hurricanes finished the regular season as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, averaging a league-high 3.55 goals per game. They have seven players who scored 20 or more goals this season. However, coach Rod Brind'Amour acknowledged that the playoffs are a different beast, saying "Nothing's going to be handed to us. We've got to work for it." The first-round matchup against the Senators will be a tough test, as Ottawa won five of their final six games to clinch a wild card spot. Goaltending will be a key factor, with Brind'Amour yet to name a Game 1 starter between veteran Frederik Andersen and breakout netminder Brandon Bussi.

  • The first-round series between the Hurricanes and Senators begins on Saturday, April 19 at 3 p.m.
  • Game 2 is scheduled for Monday, April 21.
  • The series shifts to Ottawa for Games 3 and 4 on Thursday, April 24 and Thursday, April 25 respectively.

The players

K'Andre Miller

A defenseman for the Carolina Hurricanes who discussed the team's playoff preparations and the challenges of translating regular season success into postseason wins.

Rod Brind'Amour

The head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, who acknowledged that the playoffs will require the team to bring their best effort each night.

Claude Giroux

A center for the Ottawa Senators, who expressed confidence in his team's ability to compete with the top-seeded Hurricanes.

Frederik Andersen

The veteran goaltender for the Carolina Hurricanes, who is competing with Brandon Bussi for the starting job in Game 1.

Brandon Bussi

The breakout goaltender for the Carolina Hurricanes, who earned a three-year contract extension and is vying for the starting role in the playoffs.

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What they’re saying

“You can do all these great things during the regular season, but I almost think of regular season and postseason as two different, two completely different games, almost even.”

— K'Andre Miller, Defenseman, Carolina Hurricanes

“They've all worked for 10 months to get to this point to have this opportunity. We just want to put our best foot forward.”

— Rod Brind'Amour, Head Coach, Carolina Hurricanes

“Last year, we were playing good hockey at this time of the year, too. We're not shooting ourselves in the foot. We just have confidence in how we're playing and that we're going to give ourselves a chance to win.”

— Claude Giroux, Center, Ottawa Senators

What’s next

The Hurricanes and Senators will face off in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Saturday, April 19 at 3 p.m. The winner of the best-of-seven series will advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The takeaway

The Carolina Hurricanes have been one of the NHL's elite teams over the past several seasons, but have yet to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. This playoff run represents another chance for the franchise to break through and compete for a championship. However, they will face a tough challenge from the surging Ottawa Senators, who are looking to build on their postseason experience from last year.