The Carolina Hurricanes are turning back to goaltender Frederik Andersen in a last-ditch effort to extend their season. Facing elimination in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final, the Hurricanes trail the Florida Panthers 3-0 in a best-of-seven series that the Panthers have largely controlled.
Andersen was in net for the first two games in Raleigh, where he gave up nine goals on 36 shots. He was pulled before the third period of Game 2 in favor of Pyotr Kochetkov and then served as backup in Game 3 at Amerant Bank Arena.
“He’s been great for us all season,” head coach Rod Brind’Amour said Monday. “He’s had a few days off, so it makes sense to put him back in.”
Defensemen Jalen Chatfield and Sean Walker were absent from the morning skate and are expected to miss another game. Rookies Alexander Nikishin and Scott Morrow are slated to play again, with Nikishin paired alongside Dmitry Orlov and Morrow with Shayne Gostisbehere.
At the morning skate, the Hurricanes’ forward lines featured Sebastian Aho centering Taylor Hall and Seth Jarvis; Jesperi Kotkaniemi with Andrei Svechnikov and Jackson Blake; Jordan Staal between Jordan Martinook and Logan Stankoven; and Mark Jankowski centering Eric Robinson and Will Carrier.
For the Panthers, head coach Paul Maurice confirmed that forwards Sam Reinhart and AJ Greer, along with defenseman Niko Mikkola, will all sit out Game 4.
Svechnikov tries to stay positive
After a strong start to the playoffs with eight goals in 10 games over the first two rounds, Andrei Svechnikov has gone cold offensively, held without a goal and limited to just one shot through three games against the relentless Florida Panthers.
“They’ve been aggressive entering the offensive zone, challenging us at the blue line and staying tight on us,” Svechnikov said Monday. “We need to get the puck in deep and try to outwork them.”
While he admitted the lack of scoring has been a bit frustrating, Svechnikov remains upbeat. “Only good vibes right now—just trying to stay positive and have the best game I can,” he said. “It’s not that I’m not doing the right things. I’m trying to get shots. I know I’m putting in the effort. It just hasn’t gone in. But I’ve got to keep a positive mindset.”
Forsling left Canes, shines with Panthers
Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling, once let go by the Hurricanes, now finds himself in a familiar position—on the verge of helping eliminate his former team from the playoffs for the second time in three years.
Forsling, 28, was waived twice by Carolina, with the Panthers claiming him the second time in January 2021. Reflecting on his departure, the Swedish blueliner said he was never given an explanation by the Hurricanes.
“Nothing. They never told me anything,” Forsling said Monday following an optional skate ahead of Game 4.
Since joining Florida, Forsling has bulked up and evolved into one of the NHL’s top defensemen. He was a key part of the Panthers’ Stanley Cup-winning team last season.
“I’ve put in a lot of work in the gym, off the ice,” he said. “And of course, the effort on the ice matters. But a big part of it is confidence. When an organization believes in you, everything can change.”
