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Why The Carolina Hurricanes' Goalie Duo Could Still Harm Their Cup Chances

Frederik Andersen (James Guillory-Imagn Images)

The Carolina Hurricanes might have only had Mikko Rantanen for just over a month, but without him and Martin Necas, they’re firing on all pistons.

Drama enveloped the Hurricanes at the March 7 NHL trade deadline regarding their failure in re-signing Rantanen after trading Necas in a package for him in late January. Despite that, the team went 8-2-0 in their last 10 games and won its last seven, which helps its Stanley Cup hopes.

If Carolina can maintain its dynamic play for the next month, the team will head into the playoffs as a threat with home-ice advantage, likely against the third seed in the Metropolitan Division – either the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers or Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Hurricanes look like they could still be a Stanley Cup contender. But there are still some areas of potential concern when the playoffs arrive. Their 18.1-percent power-play efficiency, which ranks 26th in the NHL, is one of them, but the bigger question mark is goaltending.

First thing’s first: the Hurricanes’ goaltending is nowhere near abysmal. Veteran netminder Frederik Andersen has a 2.16 goals-against average and .912 save percentage this season, while youngster Pyotr Kochetkov has a 2.37 GAA and a .908 SP this year. Those are solid numbers for the platoon.

Last season, Andersen had a 1.84 GAA and a .932 SP in 16 games, and Kochetkov had a .911 SP and a 2.33 GAA in 40 games – slightly better than this year. But those strong numbers did not translate into reliable goaltending in the post-season. Last playoffs, Andersen’s numbers dropped to a .895 SP and a 2.62 GAA in 10 starts. Kochetkov had a .880 SP after allowing three goals on 25 shots against the Rangers in last year’s second round. In six career playoff appearances, he’s put up a subpar .863 SP and a 4.01 GAA.

Andersen’s injury history is a bigger question mark. He already missed a sizable chunk of time this season due to knee surgery, appearing in only 14 games. He made 16 appearances last year after missing most of that campaign due to a deep-vein thrombosis diagnosis, which was unlucky. But he also had multiple injuries in 2022-23 that limited him to 34 games, and he missed the 2022 playoffs with a torn MCL.

There’s a clear cause for concern that Andersen might not be available to be counted on when the Hurricanes need him the most. When Kochetkov was injured at the same time as Andersen this season, Carolina had to turn to journeymen Dustin Tokarski and Spencer Martin. If a similar situation happens in the post-season, then a lack of reliability in net could sink the squad.

Things can always change for the better, of course. Both Carolina goalies are thriving this month: Andersen has a .932 SP and a 1.76 GAA in four games, while Kochetkov has a 0.99 GAA and a .960 SP in four appearances. Clearly, Carolina’s goalies are riding high with the rest of their teammates.

But from our standpoint, the Hurricanes’ netminding will be a nagging concern until their goalies prove otherwise. Andersen hasn’t guided his team beyond the second round of the playoffs since the 2014-15 campaign as a member of the Anaheim Ducks. And Kochetkov simply doesn’t have enough post-season experience to say with certainty how he will perform when games matter most. There’s room for reasonable doubt here.

We knew going into the season that Carolina had the overall depth to be one of the NHL’s best squads. But like all teams, the Hurricanes aren’t perfect. And if they do get flushed out of the first or second round of this year’s playoffs due to their goaltending, no one can say they didn’t see it coming.

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NHL general managers zero in on goaltender interference and other coach's challenges

NHL: Utah at Montreal Canadiens

Nov 26, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; NHL puck with French logo during the warmup period before a game between the Utah Hockey Club and the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

MANALAPAN, Fla. — Coaches are challenging goals one way or the other for goaltender interference at the highest rate in six seasons, playoff races across the NHL are tight and the chase for the Stanley Cup is a month away.

Because of all that, video review - and particularly coach's challenges for goalie interference - took center stage Monday to kick off the general managers' annual spring meeting.

GMs were shown roughly 70 clips of goals challenged this season for interference, offside or a missed stoppage, such as the puck hitting the protective netting, a hand pass or a high stick. The aim was to explain what the league standards are for goaltender interference and to educate all 32 organizations on how the process works.

“These aren’t black and white,” vice president of hockey operations Kris King said. “There’s a lot of judgment that goes into these. ... They’re never the same. They’re snowflakes. There’s a lot of different things that go into it.”

Through the first 1,048 games this season, coaches challenged either a goal or no-goal call for goalie interference 105 times - the most since 2019-20 when getting it wrong first became a two-minute penalty - and 60 of them were successfully overturned, which is also the highest percentage under the current system.

“Games are tough,” King said. “It’s tough to score. Guys know the importance of winning games, and they’re going to the net hard.”

All video reviews are determined by the NHL's situation room in Toronto, in consultation with on-ice officials. The decisions are made based on deliberate versus incidental contact, whether it's in or out of the crease, whether the goalie can do his job and has a chance to reset and if there was anything done by the offensive or defensive player to cause the disruption.

“It’s hard," said Bill Zito, GM of the reigning champion Florida Panthers. "You gain an appreciation for how hard and what a good job the refs do and the situation room. It’s unbelievable not only how good they are but how hard it is.”

Goaltender interference challenges have been in place since 2015-16, initially at the expense of a timeout like in the NFL, and director of officiating Stephen Walkom believes the standard has been set for what it means.

“We’re not far off," Walkom said. “Maybe originally when we started, there was some differences of opinion, but there really isn’t now.”

Senior executive VP of hockey operations Colin Campbell, who along with King and other league officials like Kay Whitmore and Rod Pasma are in charge of situation room rulings, thinks there have been some unwise challenges this season, which goes against the intent of the rule. The NHL is set for another high-scoring season, there are more close games than at any point in the history of the league and the last thing anyone wants is too many unnecessary disruptions to the flow of games.

“You’re going to have some judgment calls, and that’s the nature particularly of goaltender interference,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “When anybody says, ‘I thought I’d give it a shot,’ or ‘I think it’s 50/50,’ that’s not the standard. The standard is was it really a glaring mistake so that the judgment of the officials on the ice should be overturned.”

What happens far more often is successful challenges for offside: 69 of 77 because coaching staffs typically don't ask to review those plays unless they've seen conclusive video evidence that shows they are correct.

The schedule, which will be affected next season by the break for the 2026 Milan Olympics, is among the topics on the agenda for meetings Tuesday and Wednesday. One thing that is not a formal point of discussion is extending 3-on-3 overtime beyond 5 minutes, something that would need to be brought to the Players' Association.

But with a month left to go in the regular season before the playoffs begin and races for the final few spots expected to go down to the wire, all aspects of video review are under the microscope.

“We have to make tough rulings and we use our experience,” Campbell said. “It’s not that they’re all going to be accepted, obviously, because there’s passion behind these decisions to make these challenges. We know we run into that and just, with our experience, we hope we’re making the right call.”

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Belleville Senators Forward Jan Jenik Named AHL Player Of The Week

© Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Belleville Senators forward Jan Jenik has been named AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Mar. 16

Jenik notched a goal and seven assists in two games for the Belleville Senators last week, propelling the team to wins in both games. 

The 24-year-old recorded a franchise-record tying five assists against the Bridgeport Islanders on Mar. 14 before scoring the game winner and adding two assists in the rematch on Mar. 15. 

The Nymburk, Cze., native has nine goals and 23 points in 38 games with Belleville this season. 

A third round pick of the Arizona Coyotes in 2018, Jenik is pointless in two games with the Ottawa Senators this season, he has four goals and six points in 24 career NHL games with Ottawa and Arizona. 

In 203 career AHL games with the Tucson Roadrunners and Belleville Senators Jenik has put up 55 goals and 143 points.

Jenik will be a restricted free agent at season's end. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.              

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NIT makes ‘avoidable’ and ‘unfortunate’ error while offering South Alabama a tourney bid

Even amid the backdrop of college basketball’s chaotic postseason, what happened to South Alabama was “avoidable” and “unfortunate,” the school’s athletic director said Monday. The Jaguars received an invitation to the NCAA-affiliated National Invitation Tournament following the reveal of the NCAA Tournament bracket Sunday and immediately accepted. An hour later, the NIT called back and rescinded the offer because it had overbooked the bracket.

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Twins’ Royce Lewis will miss start of season after hurting his hamstring

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis will miss the start of the season due to a strained left hamstring.

An MRI revealed a moderate sprain after Lewis hurt himself running out a grounder in the Twins’ Grapefruit League game Sunday against the Boston Red Sox.

Lewis, 25, has a history of injuries. He played in 82 games last season due to quadriceps and adductor issues. That followed a 2023 season in which he played 58 games while working through injuries to his oblique and his hamstring.

He batted .233 with a .295 on-base percentage, 16 homers and 47 RBIs last season. He hit .309 with a .372 on-base percentage, 15 homers, 52 RBIs and six steals.

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Former Sabres Star Having Strong Start With New Team

Casey Mittelstadt (© Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)

Before the 2025 NHL trade deadline, the Colorado Avalanche traded former Buffalo Sabres forward Casey Mittelstadt to the Boston Bruins. This was just one year after the Sabres dealt Mittelstadt to the Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Bowen Byram. 

Mittelstadt had trouble fitting into the Avalanche's system and had been the subject of trade rumors throughout this season. Thus, it was not necessarily surprising that the 26-year-old found a new home by the deadline. Early on, the change of scenery has benefitted Mittelstadt.

Mittelstadt has been off to a strong offensive start with the Bruins. In four games with the Original Six club since the trade, the 2017 first-round pick has one goal and two assists.

When playing at his best, Mittelstadt has the ability to be an impactful offensive contributor. He undoubtedly demonstrated this during his time with the Sabres, as he had 62 goals and 186 points in 339 games with Buffalo. This included a 59-point season in 2022-23 and Mittelstadt posting 47 points in 62 games with Buffalo before being dealt to Colorado last season. 

The Sabres will now look to slow down Mittelstadt when they face off against the Bruins at TD Garden on March 17. It will be interesting to see if they can do just that from here. 

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Milutin Osmajic charged by FA over alleged racial abuse of Hannibal Mejbri

  • Preston forward has to provide response by 25 March
  • Osmajic clashed with Burnley player in February game

The Preston forward Milutin Osmajic has been charged by the Football Association after an allegation of racist abuse.

The incident took place during Preston’s Championship match against Burnley on 15 February, where Osmajic was alleged to have made a racist comment towards the Clarets midfielder Hannibal Mejbri.

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Mets' Ryan Clifford named to All-Spring Breakout First Team

Ryan Clifford’s mammoth home run on Sunday has earned him a spot on MLB.com’s All-Spring Breakout First Team.

Clifford, who is Joe DeMayo’s No. 4 prospect in the Mets' system, made quite the impression against the Washington Nationals’ top prospects by making quite the impression on the batter’s eye in dead center.

Measured at 449 feet and 106 MPH off the bat, Clifford’s two-run home run to dead center off of lefty Jackson Kent gave the Mets a 4-0 lead.

Clifford, who has the ability to play both first base and in the outfield, split his time last year between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton. In 31 games at Brooklyn, he hit just one home run, as the notorious winds coming off the ocean beyond right field drastically cut into his power numbers. As evidence, in his 98 games with the Rumble Ponies, he hit 18 home runs.

Clifford may still be a season or two away from his MLB debut, but it’s clear that his raw power makes him one of the most exciting prospects in the Mets system.

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Llandovery and Ebbw Vale set for SRC Cup final showdown

Jason Strange believes the lessons learned in Ebbw Vale’s two semi-finals defeats last season could allow them to finally get across the line and win the Super Rygbi Cymru Cup at Llandovery on Thursday night. The Steelmen were forced to come from behind at Swansea to maintain their unbeaten run in Pool B and join […]

The post Llandovery and Ebbw Vale set for SRC Cup final showdown appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.

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Brett Baty, at possible career crossroads, focused on capitalizing on second base chance

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Some may think Brett Baty is sitting at a career crossroads of sorts this spring. He’s been to the big leagues before, but he hasn’t stuck, and now he’s got another chance, either as a fill-in for the injured Jeff McNeil at second base, at least for a while, or as a utility man who roams around the diamond for the Mets.

But Baty isn’t viewing this as some kind of make-or-break and maybe that’s how he can take advantage of this opportunity. 

“It’s just taking a step back and really taking it all in, appreciating where you are and just trying to get better every single day,” the 25-year-old said. 

“Just be where your feet are.”

Baty’s feet are, much of the time, at second base, where he started Monday’s game against the Rays at Clover Park. He is trying to learn the complexities of a position that has a lot more responsibilities than third base, where he’s played for most of his career. 

There’s more communication before every pitch. He must learn the nuances of turning a double play and the ways to protect himself while doing it. He’s got to know who’s covering the second-base bag on, say, a comebacker to the pitcher with a man on first. There’s a different set of cutoffs and relays than at third base. He’s got to get familiar with the first baseman and know what situations he might have to dart over to cover that base. And more.

Third base, as Mets manager Carlos Mendoza put it, “is more angles and throwing across the diamond." 

“He’s going to be involved in a lot more plays every pitch,” Mendoza added. “There’s only so much that you can replicate just by hitting him ground balls. He needs game action and that’s some of the things that we’re going to be looking at and we’ll use those opportunities for teaching moments.” 

So far, so good, at least according to Francisco Lindor, who has been playing with Baty recently, including on Monday. In the fifth inning, Baty started a double play, flipping to Lindor for the relay to first, and the pairing was smooth. Baty also made two solid plays going to his left, including one in the eighth inning where he had to throw to José Butto on the move while the pitcher covered first.

“He looks good,” Lindor said. “He looks like he’s starting to feel comfortable and he looks like he’s embracing the challenge. That’s all you can ask for. He is ready for whatever comes his way.” 

Asked to name some folks who’ve helped him, Baty mentioned several, including Yolmer Sánchez, the 2019 AL Gold Glove winner at second base for the White Sox, who was Baty’s teammate at Triple-A Syracuse last year. Others included third-base coach Mike Sarbaugh and Lindor. 

“We've been doing early work pretty much every day, just trying to get the footwork and stuff down on some double play turns,” Baty said.

Feb 23, 2025; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets third baseman Brett Baty (7) celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a balk during the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins at Clover Park.
Feb 23, 2025; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets third baseman Brett Baty (7) celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a balk during the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins at Clover Park. / Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images

However his role shakes out, Baty’s bat will be a big factor. He’s been having a terrific spring, though he was 0-for-4 Monday in the Mets’ 2-0 loss to the Rays. That dropped Baty’s average to .308 and his OPS to .910 and he also has three doubles and two home runs. 

He’s said he’s tried to concentrate on swinging at strikes, though, in the same sentence, he lightly chastised himself for not doing that on Sunday during an 0-for-3. 

“I swung at a lot of balls, that’s why I got out a lot,” Baty noted. 

The other day, Mendoza was asked about offense and how much that would factor into the roles Baty is vying for with, among others, Luisangel Acuña, who gave the Mets a serious jolt late last year when he subbed for an injured Lindor and batted .308 with a .966 OPS.

“You’re losing your everyday guy, Jeff McNeil, who won a batting title not too long ago, and you can replace him with a guy that is going to provide offense, I think that’s huge, especially down in the bottom of the lineup,” Mendoza said. “It’s important. We know the potential is there.

Acuña has all of 40 plate appearances in the bigs. And Baty does not have a huge track record of offensive success in the Majors In 169 career games, the 12th overall pick in the 2019 draft has a .215 average, a .607 OPS and 15 home runs.

Baty could dwell on that. He’d rather heed what former Met Tomás Nido told a Triple-A hitting group a few years ago when Nido was still with the Mets. 

“He said, ‘When you get up there [the Majors], don’t take anything for granted, because it’s not a given. It’s not a right,’” Baty recalled. 

“People earn it, like Lindor,” Baty added. “He’s earned what he’s gotten. [Juan] Soto, same thing. You’re not entitled to anything. So that’s what I’m thinking. If I’m in the major leagues, I’m going to be super appreciative and grateful. But it’s also a job. You’ve got to compete.

“I'm happy to embrace any role that they want me to. I just want to be in the major leagues, helping a team win, whether that's playing second base, or whether that's rotating around the infield, maybe the outfield, giving guys days off here and there. Whatever my role is, I'm fine with.

“I love a challenge.” 

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Trent Grisham, Ben Rice homer again as Yankees fall to Blue Jays

The Yankees fell to the Toronto Blue Jays by a score of 6-5 on Monday afternoon.

Here are the takeaways…

-Paul Goldschmidt left the game in the bottom of the third inning after two at-bats. Later, he told reporters he exited because of a sore back, which he's been dealing with for a few days. Fortunately for the Yankees, Goldschmidt said he has no concern about this holding him out come Opening Day.

-Clarke Schmidt was originally scheduled to start this game, but out of an abundance of caution the Yanks had him throw a bullpen session instead, which went well by all accounts. Left-hander Brent Headrick got the start in Schmidt’s place, but things didn’t go well for him as he allowed three earned runs on three hits with a pair of walks in just one inning.

After a couple of scoreless outings to start his spring, Headrick has been hit hard in his last three appearances.

-Trent Grisham hit just .190  with nine homers in 179 at-bats with New York last season. On Monday, he slammed his fourth homer of the spring, with this one just clearing the top of the fence in left center.

Grisham will likely be the fourth outfielder and a defensive presence in 2025, but his power numbers this spring have been eye-opening.

-The Yankees had Ben Rice catching and hitting out of the leadoff spot on Monday. Rice put the Yanks on the scoreboard in the top of the third, roping a single off the base of the wall in right-center, scoring Ismael Munguia from second base.

Later, Rice deposited the first pitch of the seventh inning over the wall in left-center for his fourth homer of the spring.

It's hard to imagine a scenario where Rice isn't with the major league team coming out of spring training

-J.C. Escarra, serving as the Yanks' DH on Monday, registered two more hits as he continues to push for a spot on the Opening Day roster as a catcher/DH option. The 29-year-old left-handed-hitter is batting .368 this spring with a 1.032 OPS.

-The Yankees took their first lead of the day in the top of the eighth inning, when 22-year-old Brenny Escanio hit a solo homer to left. Escanio played in Low and High-A ball last season. But Toronto tied the game and then walked it off with home runs in the eighth and ninth.

Who was the game MVP?

Rice, who homered and hit another ball off the wall.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees host the Boston Red Sox in Tampa on Tuesday at 1:05 p.m.