Hurricanes turn to rookie goalie Pyotr Kochetkov for Game 3

The Carolina Hurricanes will start rookie goalie Pyotr Kochetkov in Game 3 on Thursday night, trailing the New York Rangers 2-0 in their Eastern Conference second-round series.

Starter Freddie Andersen lost Games 1 and 2 at Madison Square Garden, stopping 54 of 62 shots (.871 save percentage). That included a 4-3 double-overtime loss on Game 2 on Tuesday.

"Freddie's played really well. He's also played a lot. I think giving him a little rest is the best thing," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said Thursday.

Although technically a rookie this season, Kochetkov is no playoff novice. He played four games for the Hurricanes in the 2022 playoffs, including two against the Rangers, and appeared in a second-round game against the New Jersey Devils last season.

Kochetkov, 24, was 23-13-4 with a .911 save percentage and a 2.33 goals-against average in 42 games this season for the Hurricanes.

"He's got a different demeanor. That's obvious. Freddie's really calm and cool, and Kooch is more passionate. Wears his emotions on his sleeve. But they're both really good goalies," Brind'Amour said. "At the end of the day, he's fresh and I hope he has a great game."

The Hurricanes coach also announced that center Evgeny Kuznetsov would return to the lineup after being a healthy scratch in Game 2.

Game 3 is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET in Raleigh. The Hurricanes were 27-10-4 at home in the regular season, the fifth-best record in the NHL.