
Hurricanes Turn to Kochetkov in Crucial Game 3: Will He Change the Game?
2025-05-24
Author: Ying
The Carolina Hurricanes are making a bold move as they gear up for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers. Rookie goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov will take the net, a decision aimed at shaking things up after a lackluster start to the series.
Head coach Rod Brind'Amour defended his veteran netminder, Frederik Andersen, stating, "I don't blame Freddie for the goals that went in. The save percentage wasn’t great, but those were phenomenal shots by the Panthers. It's time to change the vibe a little bit." Kochetkov's previous stint in the game saw him step in during the third period of a crushing 5-0 defeat in Game 2.
Andersen had been the top goaltender statistically in the playoffs before this series, yet he has struggled with an alarming number of early goals against him in both games so far. With the Hurricanes facing a daunting 2-0 series deficit, the shift to Kochetkov signals urgency.
The juice doesn’t stop with the goaltending change! The Hurricanes could also shake up other aspects of their lineup, depending on player health. Brind'Amour revealed that both defenseman Jalen Chatfield and Sean Walker will be game-time decisions. However, he confirmed that Seth Jarvis is set to play and anticipates Jesperi Kotkaniemi's return to the ice after being a healthy scratch in the previous game.
Brind'Amour challenged Kotkaniemi to step up, saying, "We need more out of him if he's going to play that role. Even if he’s not scoring, we need him to be more impactful. He's a big body, he needs to use that more effectively."
The stakes are high for the Hurricanes, who have experienced a 14-game losing streak in Eastern Conference Final matchups, including six consecutive losses to the formidable Panthers. Meanwhile, Florida will be without their leading scorer, Sam Reinhart, for this pivotal game, potentially leveling the playing field.
Hurricane fans will be holding their breaths as the puck drops at 8 p.m.—can Kochetkov deliver the spark this team desperately needs?