Frederik Andersen Makes Trip to New York

The Carolina Hurricanes are taking a 2-0 series lead into New York today for their afternoon Game 3 against the Rangers. They have a bit of extra cargo for this trip. Netminder Frederik Andersen is making the trip with the team. Andersen sustained an undisclosed lower-body injury against the Colorado Avalanche on April 16th. Injured players typically do not travel with the team. This is a good sign that he is making progress in his rehab and might be close to returning to the lineup.

Andersen was a limited participant in Hurricanes practice, taking shots with goaltending coach Paul Schonfelder. As it is good to see him on the ice, Carolina Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour has asked the media to not ask questions pertaining to Andersen until he takes a full team practice.

During the regular season, Andersen was stellar for the Canes. He was second in the league (only behind Rangers' Igor Shesterkin) in GAA with 2.17, third in save percentage with .922, and sixth in shutouts with 4. He went 35-14-3 with the Canes this year. Andersen was definitely in the conversation for Vezina prior to his injury in April.

Andersen and backup netminder Antti Raanta together won the Jennings Trophy this season for having the fewest goals-against in the NHL.

It is certainly a welcome sight to see such a high caliber goalie making his way back from injury, but Raanta has been nothing short of spectacular for the Canes in his absence this postseason. Raanta is 5-2 this playoffs with a 1.83 GAA (3rd), .939 save percentage (3rd), and one shutout (2nd). Raanta's stellar performance takes the pressure off of Andersen and allows him adequate time to recover from injury.

We know that Rod Brind'Amour is not afraid to make goalie changes with necessary. When Raanta was injured, he started rookie netminder Pyotr Kochetkov in the first round series against the Bruins. Furthermore, Brind'Amour used three netminders against the Tampa Bay Lightning during last year's playoff run - Petr Mrazek, James Reimer, and another rookie, Alex Nedeljkovic.

Until Andersen participates in a full team practice, we are left to speculate. When he does, it will be interesting to see Brind'Amour's approach to the Hurricane's net: stick with the hot hand or change it up with an elite level netminder.

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