Frederik Andersen has been a different goaltender this postseason. His 1.44 GAA is the best mark among all 2026 playoff netminders, and his 11-1 record includes three shutouts — the latest an 18-save blank in Game 4 that gave him five career playoff shutouts as a Hurricane, breaking Cam Ward's franchise record.
Carolina hasn't been to the Cup Final since 2006, when they beat Edmonton in seven. Tonight at Lenovo Center, they can end the drought. After dropping Game 1 by four goals, they've won three straight — including two in overtime — outscoring Montreal 10-4 across the streak. The pattern isn't close games anymore; it's Carolina finding a way to finish.
But Jakub Dobes keeps making closeout games interesting. He's 6-0 after losses this postseason with a .942 save percentage and 1.77 GAA in bounce-back starts. He already won two Game 7s, including a 37-save performance (.956 Sv%) against Buffalo. The problem: he needs to win three straight, starting in a building that just posted a shutout.
Zack Wheeler came back from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery and has been, quietly, the most efficient pitcher in the National League. Through his return: 1.99 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 30:7 K:BB ratio across 31.2 innings. In his last outing, he needed just 87 pitches to get through 7.1 innings against Boston, allowing one run.
The market has him as a coin flip. PHI +100 against the best team in the NL. The Dodgers are 36-20 and riding a five-game home win streak, but they're sending Justin Wrobleski out against a pitcher whose WHIP says he barely lets anyone on base.
The angle worth watching: Wheeler's control. The 30:7 K:BB means he's not walking hitters at Dodger Stadium, and when you don't put runners on for free in this park, you don't lose track of the game. Wrobleski needs to match that efficiency to keep this competitive — and that's a tall ask against a lineup that includes Schwarber, Harper, and Turner.
Logan Webb hasn't pitched in the majors since May 6, when knee bursitis sent him to the IL with a 5.06 ERA and 1.40 WHIP across eight starts — numbers well above his career 3.43 ERA norm. He made a rehab start at Triple-A Sacramento on May 22 (3.1 IP, 1 unearned run) and gets the call tonight.
His welcome-back gift: Coors Field, where the ball travels roughly 5% farther than at sea level and the park factor sits at 1.38. The total is 10.5, the highest on tonight's 15-game slate by a full run.
Earlier thunderstorms in Denver are expected to clear by first pitch — 73°F, 5 mph wind, partly cloudy. Michael Lorenzen toes the rubber for Colorado. The Rockies are 20-37, but Coors doesn't care about your record. It plays how it plays.