Hurricanes-Senators beat writer breakdown: Know your NHL playoff enemy

RALEIGH, N.C. — It is almost like looking in a mirror.The Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators will open the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs with a Saturday afternoon matchup in Raleigh. And both teams are well aware of the similarities between them.They’re the two stingiest teams thanks to their suffocating defensive styles, limiting chances against. Their expected goals and high-danger chance percentages are comparable. Both teams have stars at the top of their lineups. And while both teams will need their goaltenders to stand on their heads, Carolina and Ottawa ended the regular season in the bottom half of the league in team save percentage.Advertisement