Last Time Out:Wednesday night the Canes received one of, if not the best, goaltending performance of the season. Antti Raanta turned aside 33 chances from the Florida Panthers, nine of which came while the team was shorthanded. Keeping the team in the contest save after save, the 33-year-old netminder unfortunately left with nothing to show as his team was unable to find the back of the net. The Panthers earned a 3-0 win, handing the Canes their first regular season blanking since April 14.
Drury's Season Debut:2018 second round pick Jack Drury made his season debut Wednesday night in Sunrise, playing in his third career NHL game. He won six of his eight faceoffs in a little over nine minutes of ice time, even being bumped up in the lineup as the contest went on by Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour. Prior to the lineup shuffling Drury anchored a line between Stefan Noesen and Derek Stepan. "He was good, he was a bright spot for me," the head coach offered post-game.
Koochie Time?:Given that Antti Raanta started last night against the Cats, the team could be turning to Pyotr Kochetkov for this evening's affair. Goaltender Frederik Andersen left Tuesday's practice early due to injury,
prompting the emergency recall
of the 22-year-old netminder. The team's 2019 second round draft pick had quite the journey last season, starting the year in the KHL, coming to North America and going 13-1-1 in the AHL after COVID-19 ended his season in Russia, and then being forced to step into the Canes net during the last week of the regular season. Not only was he rushed in, he needed to play three games in four days after Antti Raanta went down hurt. But the charismatic young man showcased himself by going 3-0 and then going on to play four playoff games. Through five games this season with Chicago (AHL) Kochetkov has gone 2-2-1 with a .911 save percentage (SV%).
