By Pat Welter and Ryan Bisesi, WRAL
New Jersey Devils 3 Carolina Hurricanes 2 TNT | 2nd – 15:39
A new square was placed on the front of Lenovo Center on Monday morning to signify a third playoff victory for the Carolina Hurricanes.
On Tuesday, it was a crease inside the arena that drew all the attention.
Goaltender Frederik Andersen, who started the first four games of the series, is out for Tuesday night’s Game 5 against New Jersey at Lenovo Center.
Carolina leads the first-round series 3-1.
Andersen was injured early in the second period of Game 4 when New Jersey’s Timo Meier crashed into him in the crease. Meier was not assessed a penalty. Andersen was not at Tuesday’s morning skate session and is considered day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.
Pyotr Kochetkov, who won 27 games for the Hurricanes this season, will get his first start of the series.
“We would have definitely considered putting [Kochetkov] this game anyway. He’s played half the games this year anyway or maybe more. This isn’t like we’re putting in a guy we don’t trust or hasn’t played a lot of games for us,” Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “We have a lot of faith in him.”
Kochetkov saw his first playoff action on Sunday, allowing one goal on 15 shots after Andersen left the game.
Spencer Martin was recalled from Chicago Wolves to serve in the backup role.
The Canes defeated New Jersey 5-2 in Game 4 on Sunday and can close out the series on home ice.
“It’s going to be an important game for us,” said Andrei Svechnikov, who scored three goals in the victory. “It’s always fun to play at home, the fans are going to be cheering for us.”
He now has four goals for the playoffs and woke up to a sea of hats on his front lawn Monday morning.
“Unbelievable,” Svechnikov laughed. “I have good neighbors.”
Svechnikov stuffing the stat sheet was a welcome sight for fans and his teammates.
“He’s been impactful all series, so no surprise to me,” Sebastian Aho said. “Big body, he’s strong, plays hard, definitely a big player for us.”
It’s been a long road back for Svechnikov, who was named to his first All-Star game in 2023 only to tear his ACL that March. His production hasn’t been at the same level since, but his recent play could be a sign of bigger things to come.
“He’s hard on himself when things aren’t going well and that’s obviously why you love him, he cares,” Brind’Amour said. “Hopefully {Sunday’s game] can propel him to get on the score sheet a little more.”
