Carolina Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen sustained a lower-body injury and is currently listed as week-to-week, as per coach Rod Brind’Amour’s announcement. The injury occurred after the Hurricanes’ 4-1 victory against the Seattle Kraken, where Andersen made 18 saves. Despite the setback, Andersen has been performing well this season with a 3-1-0 record, a 1.48 goals-against average, and a .941 save percentage in four games.
Coach Brind’Amour expressed his hope for weekly updates on Andersen’s condition, acknowledging that the recovery process may take longer than initially expected. To fill in the gap left by Andersen’s absence, the Hurricanes brought up Spencer Martin from the AHL’s Chicago Wolves to support goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov. Kochetkov, 25 years old, is set to take on the primary goaltending responsibilities while Andersen is recovering.
Brind’Amour emphasized the opportunity for Kochetkov to prove himself in this extended role, noting that the young goaltender is eager for the challenge. With Andersen’s impressive career statistics of 298 wins in 499 games with previous teams like the Anaheim Ducks and the Toronto Maple Leafs, his absence leaves big shoes to fill for Kochetkov.
As the Hurricanes navigate through Andersen’s injury, the team remains optimistic about their goaltending situation. Despite the temporary setback, the opportunity for Kochetkov to showcase his skills and potentially earn a more prominent role in the team’s lineup is a silver lining in this situation. Andersen’s experience and leadership will be missed on the ice, but the Hurricanes are confident in their ability to adapt and succeed in his absence.