The Carolina Hurricanes are set to take on the Philadelphia Flyers this Saturday, with goalie Pyotr Kochetkov slated to start in net. Kochetkov will be looking to rebound after suffering his first loss of the season last Sunday against the San Jose Sharks. Despite the defeat, which was attributed to the team’s overall lack of sharpness, Kochetkov had previously maintained an impressive 4-0 record.
In his career against the Flyers, Kochetkov has demonstrated strong performance, holding a record of 5-1 with a notable .932 save percentage across six appearances.
The Hurricanes’ lineup is expected to remain unchanged as they pursue their third consecutive win. The matchup against the Flyers will be the first of two meetings, with a rematch scheduled for the following night in Raleigh.
Tonight’s projected forward lines include:
- Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis
- Nikolaj Ehlers, Logan Stankoven, Matt Blake
- Keegan Carrier, Jordan Staal, Derek Martinook
- Taylor Hall, Mark Jankowski, Julien Robinson
On defense, the pairings are set as follows:
- Ryan Miller, Josh Walker
- Shayne Gostisbehere, Jalen Chatfield
- Artyom Nikishin, William Nystrom
Kochetkov will be supported by an active power play unit featuring Aho, Jarvis, Staal, and Svechnikov, alongside Gostisbehere for the first unit. The second power play unit includes Ehlers, Hall, and Stankoven, with Nikishin and Walker contributing.
In terms of injuries, defenseman Charles Alexis Legault is expected to be sidelined for 3-4 months due to a hand injury sustained on November 11. Jaccob Slavin is currently practicing and is nearing a return from a lower-body injury. Meanwhile, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Mike Reilly will not participate in the game as healthy scratches.
