FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — It’s not an absolute must-win for the Hurricanes on Saturday in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final, but it sure feels like one after the Panthers pummeled Carolina in the series’ first two games.
Both teams have lineup changes for Game 3 — some due to injury, others by choice — and there are some game-time decisions.
1. The most significant change for the Hurricanes in Game 3 is coach Rod Brind’Amour going to Pyotr Kochetkov in net.
Brind’Amour was quick to absolve Frederik Andersen — who has allowed nine goals on 36 shots in the first two games — of blame for the losses, but he decided to make a change nonetheless.
“Just change the vibe a little bit,” Brind’Amour said of the reason for the move. “I don’t blame Freddy on any of the goals that went in. Obviously, the save percentage is not great, if you look at that. We do need some saves. But I can’t blame them on him. All the goals have been great shots or plays by them.”
One reason for the change could be Kochetkov’s ability to play the puck. Florida, like Carolina, uses their forecheck to retrieve pucks on dump-ins, and a good puck-handling goalie can slow those efforts.
Kochetkov has also had success against the Panthers in his career: In two starts, he’s allowed one goal on 71 shots, though he did allow one on five shots, a power play goal, in relief in Game 2.
In February 2024, he had a 45-save shutout in a 1-0 win in Raleigh, outdueling Sergei Bobrovsky. On Jan. 2 this season — after Carolina had been thumped on back-to-back nights of a home and home against the Panthers in November with No. 3 Spencer Martin in net — he again came out on top against his countryman, making 25 saves in a 3-1 win.
2. The Hurricanes will again be without defenseman Jalen Chatfield, who will miss a fourth straight game with an undisclosed injury. Rookie Scott Morrow, who has played in Chatfield’s place in the first two games of this series, will again be in the lineup.
Morrow had a difficult NHL playoff debut in Game 1, being on the ice for three goals against and in the box for another. The rookie was better in Game 2, with a 0.15 expected goals against in just under 10½ minutes of 5-on-5 ice time — and Florida didn’t score with him out there.
There’s a fervor among the fanbase to give Alexander Nikishin another shot in the lineup, but it’s been difficult for the team to get the Russian defender up to speed on a system that Morrow has played all season. Most observers only see the glaring mistakes — which Morrow and Nikishin have both had in their brief playoff appearances — but Carolina is so reliant on precise positioning that going back to Nikishin might be too risky unless it’s essential.
Brind’Amour has said countless times that the language barrier has made things difficult for Nikishin, and coaches just don’t have the time — in the video room or practice — at this juncture of the season to teach a player everything they need to know from the ground up.
For Florida, Sam Reinhart — injured in the first period of Game 2 on a hit by Sebastian Aho — will not play, and Jesper Boqvist will take his place in the lineup and on the top line centered by Aleksander Barkov.
3. Jesperi Kotkaniemi will be back in the lineup for Game 3 after being a healthy scratch in Game 2.
“It’s rough to watch the games,” Kotkaniemi said of being in the press box for Game 2, “but I’m sure the best lineup’s always out there. Just try to do your best when you get out there; another opportunity and try to be good.”
Kotkaniemi has no goals and three assists in 11 games this postseason, and after centering the fourth line in Game 1, he will be between Taylor Hall and Logan Stankoven on the second line on Saturday. Jack Roslovic will be a healthy scratch, with Mark Jankowski centering Jackson Blake and Eric Robinson, as he did in Game 2.
As for Kotkaniemi, Carolina could desperately use an effective game by him.
“We need more of him,” Brind’Amour said. “If he’s going to play in that role, especially, even if it’s not scoring, you’ve got to be a little more impactful. So he’s a big body. He’s got to use it a little more.”
In 51 career playoff games with the Hurricanes, Kotkaniemi has three goals and a 4.2% shooting percentage. But even if he doesn’t score, Carolina needs him to be effective — which, when he’s at his best, means using his size, as Brind’Amour suggested, and playing north-south hockey.
4. There’s another question mark on defense. Sean Walker briefly left Game 2 after a hit by Florida defenseman Niko Mikkola, and Brind’Amour said Friday he was “iffy.” Walker participated briefly in Saturday’s morning skate at the Panthers practice facility.
“That was the plan,” Brind’Amour said of Walker leaving the ice early. “Get a little twirl. He’s one of those guys that’s probably a game-time decision.”
Walker skated aside Dmitry Orlov again while he was on the ice, with Morrow paired with Shayne Gostisbehere. Should Walker be unable to go, it will be interesting to see how Brind’Amour sends out his defense.
5. The Panthers are 4 for 5 on the power play in the series, and captain Jordan Staal said in the aftermath of Game 2 that the Hurricanes need to find a way to slow down the Florida PP. On Saturday afternoon, he said Carolina needs to stick with what has made them so successful on the PK.
“We’re gonna double down on what we’ve been doing,” he said. “I think we have to be more aggressive at times and do better reads a little bit. I think, really, just doubling down on what we’ve done so well so far and just find ways to get it done. Obviously, there’s just been little tweaks, but there isn’t much to change beyond just doing what we’ve been doing, really.”
