Updated at 7:04 PM: According to Walt Ruff, Kochetkov is not eligible to play in tonight’s game due to a roster technicality, though he does remain playoff-eligible. Brandon Bussi will start instead.
The Carolina Hurricanes will end their regular season on the road tonight against the New York Islanders.
In a move that had been telegraphed in recent days, Pyotr Kochetkov will be starting in the crease tonight after a successful conditioning stint in Chicago following surgery that left him “probably out for the year” according to Head Coach Rod Brind’Amour. A successful game tonight, especially with the Hurricanes’ augmented roster, would bring the team into the playoffs with three highly-respected goaltenders and in the top spot in the East.
Carolina has won both of their previous games against the Islanders this season (Oct. 30, 2-6, and Apr. 4, 3-4). Their forward lines will be the same as they were yesterday against the Flyers, but their defense will shake up a bit. Nikishin will skate alongside a to-be-announced partner on the top pair, while Reilly and Legault remain together, and Seeley slots in alongside Nystrom to round out the defense corps. Keep an eye on Taylor Hall, as well; two goals from him would allow the Hurricanes to tie their franchise record for most players with twenty goals (8, set by Hartford in the 1986-87 season).
The Islanders were eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday after their loss against the Montréal Canadiens. They are expected to start tonight with goaltender David Rittich, and viewers should keep an eye on Islander Matthew Schaefer, who is tied with Brian Leetch for the NHL record for most goals (23) by a rookie defenseman in an NHL season.