Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour announced that Pyotr Kochetkov will be starting in goal for Game 3 against the New York Rangers. This change comes after the Hurricanes are trailing the series 2-0. The decision was made roughly seven hours before the game, with Andersen’s workload being a significant factor.
Andersen has played well so far in the series, but Brind’Amour believes that giving him some rest is necessary for his performance. Andersen allowed eight goals on 62 shots in the first two games against the Rangers. However, Brind’Amour does not solely attribute the team’s deficits to Andersen’s performance.
The young rookie goaltender Kochetkov has not played since April and has NHL experience under his belt. Brind’Amour expressed confidence in Kochetkov’s abilities and fresh perspective heading into Game 3. This change in net could spark a turnaround for Carolina as they look to close the gap against the Rangers.
In addition to changing goalkeepers, Evgeny Kuznetsov will also return to the lineup after being scratched for Game 2. With these lineup adjustments, Carolina hopes to find success against New York in Game 3.