Hurricanes recall Pyotr Kochetkov ahead of playoff push
Photo credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
The Carolina Hurricanes recalled goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov from the Chicago Wolves on Monday, a move that lands just hours before tonight's road game against Philadelphia.
Carolina is 48-23-10 on the season with 106 points, sitting second overall in the Metropolitan Division.
Rod Brind'Amour's goaltending picture has been anything but settled. Brandon Bussi has carried the load this year with a .892 save percentage in 37 appearances. Frederik Andersen has gone 12-14 with a .874 save percentage in 35 starts.
That gap between the two numbers is not subtle.
Kochetkov brings a .899 save percentage in 9 appearances this season. Small sample, yes, but he has been sharper when he's played.
Kochetkov's return raises real questions about Carolina's crease heading into the playoffs
He also posted a shutout in those 9 games. Bussi has two. Andersen has none.
Think of it like a hockey version of a baseball manager going back to his best arm in October. The regular season numbers matter less than who you trust when it gets hard.
The Hurricanes also recalled forward Felix Unger Sorum from the Wolves, per the team's official announcement posted Monday afternoon.
Sorum is not in the NHL roster files, meaning his numbers this season come from his time in the AHL. Carolina has not confirmed a start for him tonight, and his role remains unclear.
What is clear is the timing. Carolina plays tonight at Philadelphia, and then again at the Islanders tomorrow.
A back-to-back to close out the regular season, and the Hurricanes are loading up.
The Canes went 3-0 against the Flyers this season before tonight. Philly is 41-27-12 with 94 points. Not a pushover, and they're riding a win of their own after that 7-1 shellacking of Winnipeg on Saturday.
Jalen Chatfield remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury, which likely factored into the Sorum recall as well.
Carolina has gone 7-3-0 over its last 10. The engine is running. Whether Kochetkov gets the crease tonight or just adds insurance behind Bussi and Andersen, his recall sends a message that Brind'Amour wants options when the bracket opens.
And the question about who starts Game 1? It has not been answered yet.
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| POLL | ||
AVRIL 13|51 ANSWERS Hurricanes recall Pyotr Kochetkov ahead of playoff push Should Pyotr Kochetkov get the nod in net over Brandon Bussi when the playoffs start? | ||
| Yes | 26 | 51 % |
| No | 25 | 49 % |
| List of polls | ||