NHL goalie Frederik Andersen is set to make history as he leads the Carolina Hurricanes into their first Stanley Cup final, but this milestone is bittersweet for the Danish netminder. Tragedy struck just days before Carolina's Eastern Conference final clincher, as Andersen's close friend and former teammate Claude Lemieux passed away. Lemieux, a highly respected and accomplished player, was a key figure in Andersen's early days in the league, and his loss has left a gaping hole in the team's dressing room. As Andersen takes to the ice in pursuit of the Stanley Cup, he'll be doing so with Lemieux's memory etched in his mind, fueling a fierce determination to bring the championship to his fallen friend's family and legacy.

As Frederik Andersen finally reaches his first Stanley Cup final, he isn't just playing for a championship. He's playing for Claude Lemieux, who died days before Carolina's Eastern Conference final clincher.