Hurricanes flourishing in playoffs with goalie tandem of Andersen, Raanta

RALEIGH, N.C. --Once upon a time, a goaltending duo took the Carolina Hurricanes on a fairytale ride to the 2002 Stanley Cup Final.

Could it happen again for Carolina this season?

After Antti Raanta started the first five games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Hurricanes, Frederik Andersen is likely to make his fourth consecutive start when they visit New Jersey Devils for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at Prudential Center on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET: TBS, SN1, TVAS).

With the Hurricanes leading 2-0 in the best-of-7 series following a 6-1 win in Game 2 on Friday, when Andersen made 28 saves, there is no reason at this time to switch back to Raanta, who remained ill on Saturday after being unavailable to back up Friday.

However, Raanta will probably get another chance at some point because, for the most part, the Hurricanes have rotated their goalies all season.

"We're two good goalies," Andersen said. "I think we both want to be in there, obviously, and both want to help the team out, and we're just grateful every time we get a chance to play and enjoy it."

In 2002, Arturs Irbe started the first four games of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals for Carolina against New Jersey, but after winning the first two at home, Irbe was pulled in each of the next two on the road. The Hurricanes switched to Kevin Weekes for Game 5, and he made 40 saves in a 3-2 overtime victory.

Weekes followed that effort by making 32 saves in a 1-0 victory in Game 6 to give Carolina its first playoff series victory since relocating from Hartford in 1997. Weekes then started six straight games before Irbe reclaimed the net in relief in a 4-3 overtime victory in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Montreal Canadiens.

Irbe went on to start Carolina's final 13 playoff games in a remarkable run that ended in the Stanley Cup Final, when it lost in five games to the Detroit Red Wings.

"It worked easily because we got along exceptionally well," Weekes said. "We had a lot of respect for each other. Obviously, he was a Hurricanes star, so I had a lot of respect for him, and we had the same agent, Paul Theofanous. So, there was nothing but synergy between us. [Irbe] was always very supportive and, of course, I was supportive of our franchise goalie."

Weekes, now an analyst with ESPN and NHL Network, was 3-2 with a 1.62 goals-against average, .939 save percentage and two shutouts in eight games (six starts) during the 2002 playoffs. Irbe was 10-8 with 1.67 GAA, .938 save percentage and one shutout in 18 playoff games (17 starts).

RELATED: [Complete Hurricanes vs. Devils series coverage]

Since then, there have been only two instances of a team reaching the Stanley Cup Final with two goalies starting at least six games, according to NHL Stats.

Michael Leighton started 13 playoff games and Brian Boucher started 10 when the Philadelphia Flyers reached the Cup Final in 2010 before losing to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games. In 2017, Marc-Andre Fleury started the first 15 playoff games for the Pittsburgh Penguins with Matt Murray injured, but Murray returned to start the final 10 of their run to repeating as Stanley Cup champions.

Weekes believes Carolina can have similar success with Andersen and Raanta, who are each 33, because they are experienced and used to switching back and forth. Andersen was 21-11-1 with a 2.48 GAA, .903 save percentage and one shutout in 34 regular-season games (33 starts) this season. Raanta was 19-3-3 with a 2.23 GAA, .910 save percentage and four shutouts in 27 regular-season games (26 starts).

Because of injuries, rookie Pyotr Kochetkov also played in 24 games (23 starts) and was 12-7-5 with a 2.44 GAA, .909 save percentage and four shutouts.

"I think one thing that's also important for [coach Rod Brind'Amour] is to manage their health," Weekes said. "I'm not sure either guy is going to play 10 straight games, which isn't a knock. Quite frankly, they've been kind of platooning the last couple years, so they're used to it. They're great team guys and the team is very confident playing in front of either one."

Brind'Amour played for the Hurricanes in 2002 when they reached the Cup Final with the Irbe-Weekes tandem, so he's seen it work as a player and a coach.

Raanta was 3-2 with a 2.59 GAA and .906 save percentage in playing the first five games of the first round against the New York Islanders. Andersen might've played earlier in that series had he not been unavailable for Games 2-4 because of an illness and minor injury, but he was sharp when given the chance in Game 6, making 33 saves in a series-clinching 2-1 overtime win.

In all, Andersen has stopped 78 of 81 shots in his three consecutive starts for a 0.97 GAA and .963 save percentage.

"They both have handled it really well, and you have to," Brind'Amour said. "They're professional. They get it. I think they both know they're going to play huge parts in this if we want to move forward."

Andersen and Raanta have developed a strong bond since each signed a two-year contract with Carolina on July 28, 2021. Andersen was unable to play in the playoffs because of an MCL injury last season, so Raanta started 13 of the Hurricanes' 14 postseason games (with Kochetkov starting the other).

"Whoever is in net, the other guy is supporting," Raanta said. "We talk a lot off the game day and if we see something or some pattern what the other team might do, you share that. It's been a lot of fun. Obviously, 'Freddie' was unreal in Game 6 in Long Island. It's just great to see him play well and, obviously, he's kept going."

Raanta said he's using this time between starts to work on his game in practices and morning skates so he's ready whenever he's called upon next. And, of course, he'll keep rooting for Andersen.

After each has chased the Stanley Cup for 10 NHL seasons without winning it, a playoff victory for either gets them one closer to their ultimate goal.

"I wouldn't mind if Freddie goes 14 wins in a row or however many wins we need to get to the Stanley Cup," Raanta said. "If he wins [13] in a row, I'm a pretty happy guy."