MONTREAL - The Carolina Hurricanes are likely to go with Pyotr Kochetkov in net on Saturday as they face the Montreal Canadiens.
It will be the team-leading 39th game of the season for the 24-year-old backstop, who will be looking to get back in the win column after suffering a rare regulation loss on Tuesday in Pittsburgh.
Kochetkov stopped 18 out of 20 shots that came his way, but the team in front of him provided him with just one goal of support.
Since December 12 he has produced a .921 SV%, the best among Eastern Conference goalies who have played at least 15 games.
In front of Kochetkov's crease, the Canes will either stick with the same lineup that earned them a controlling 4-0 shutout victory over Detroit on Thursday, or they'll find a way to bring Jesper Fast back into the mix.
Rod Brind'Amour said after Friday's practice that the forward who has been dealing with an upper-body injury was "probable" to return, but he continued to say that if it wasn't tonight, then it could be Thursday against Boston.
If he does not play, it will be a sixth consecutive missed game for #71.
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Tonight's Betting Odds
Odds at Time of Publishing, provided by Fanatics Sportsbook: Canes -270
To view more Fanatics Sportsbook betting lines, click here.
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Tonight's Projected Lineup...
Forwards
Guentzel - Aho - Jarvis
Martinook - Kuznetsov - Necas
Svechnikov - Staal - Teravainen
Kotkaniemi - Drury - Noesen - Fast
(One of the four players listed on the fourth line will not play.)
Defense
Slavin - Burns
Skjei - Pesce
Orlov - Chatfield
Goaltenders
Kochetkov
[Backup: Andersen or Martin]
Injuries
Jesper Fast* (Upper-Body Injury)
(Fast may play tonight.)
Healthy Scratches
Tony DeAngelo
Brendan Lemieux
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PP1: Aho, Guentzel, Jarvis, and Svechnikov with Burns
PP2: Kuznetsov, Necas, Noesen, and Teravainen with Skjei
