The Carolina Hurricanes will be without one of their best and most important players when the puck drops for Game 1 of their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Boston Bruins.
Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour told reporters that Frederik Andersen skated Sunday, but that the veteran goaltender won't start Monday night's series opener at PNC Arena. Andersen suffered a lower body injury a few weeks ago against the Colorado Avalanche and hasn't played since.
Bruins vs. Hurricanes first-round playoff preview, odds and prediction
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Brind'Amour did not announce a Game 1 starter in net. The most likely candidates are veteran backup Antti Raanta and rookie Pyotr Kochetkov.
Raanta struggled in April, posting a .895 save percentage and a 2.68 GAA in seven appearances. Kochetkov has very little experience with just three games played in his NHL career (all this season).
Complete schedule for Bruins vs. Hurricanes first-round playoff series
Andersen played at a Vezina Trophy level this season, tallying a 35-14-3 record, a .922 save percentage and a 2.17 GAA. Andersen and Raanta won the William M. Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals of any team in the league during the regular season.
Boston Bruins
The Bruins will start Linus Ullmark in net for Game 1 after his fantastic finish to the regular season.