They may have opened as Stanley Cup favorites this postseason, but the Carolina Hurricanes are pushing the red button in the second round of the playoffs. Their starting goaltender for the first seven games this postseason, Frederik Andersen, will no longer man the blue crease. Why are the Carolina Hurricanes turning to Pyotr Kochetkov for a pivotal game three?
Pyotr Kochetkov Was Incredible for the Carolina Hurricanes All Season
He may only be 24, but Kochetkov was a crucial part of Carolina’s great regular season. Antti Raanta was awful when he tried to fill in for the injured Frederik Andersen. So, the young goalie got 42 starts as the Carolina Hurricanes netminder.
Kochetkov went 23-13-4 in those 43 outings. He had a .911 SV%, 2.33 GAA, and four shutouts. He went 1-1 against the New York Rangers and stopped 51 of the 53 shots he faced in those games. The Canes are going back to the goalie who was the most important for their regular season success.
Andersen Has Had a Shaky Postseason
While Frederik Andersen hasn’t been the sole reason the Carolina Hurricanes aren’t cruising through the playoffs, he hasn’t been good enough. He has saved fewer than 90% of the shots he’s faced in four of their seven playoff games. Andersen allowed three or more goals in five of them.
So, the veteran with 69 career postseason starts may not get another this year thanks to a .899 save percentage. At least, that’s what the Carolina Hurricanes hope by turning to Kochetkov. If Andersen sees the ice again, maybe the message from this move will make him sharper.
A Look at the Carolina Hurricanes Second Round Series
Carolina returned to their home ice facing a 2-0 deficit to the President’s Trophy-winning New York Rangers. Although New York won the Metropolitan Division and had the NHL’s best record, the Hurricanes were favored to take the series. Will their homecoming turn the tides of the series? Game three is at 7:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday and will answer that question.
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