Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Frederik Andersen started for the Hurricanes of Caroline against the Florida Panthers in match 4 of the final of the Eastern Conference to bring Bank Arena on Monday.
Andersen was the safeguard of Pyotr Kochetkov during the Hurricanes 6-2 defeat in match 3 Saturday after starting the first two games in the Best-OF-7 series.
“It was great for us all year round,” said Caroline coach Rod Brind’amour on Monday. “He spent a few beautiful days off, so it makes sense.”
The Panthers lead the 3-0 series and can go to the Stanley Cup final for the third consecutive season with a victory on Monday.
Andersen had been replaced by Kochetkov during the third period of a 5-0 defeat in match 2 after granting four goals on 16 shots.
Kochetkov made four stops on five shots in match 2, then made 22 stops in match 3.
Andersen had an excellent start for the STANLEY Cup qualifiers, going 7-2 with an average of a goal of 1.36 and a percentage of stops of 0.937 in nine games during the first two laps.
But in two games against the panthers, he granted nine goals on 36 shots (percentage of stops of 0.750).
Brind’amour, who said he started Kochetkov in match 3 to “change the atmosphere” after losing the first two games of the series on home ice, said on Monday that Andersen deserved to have the chance to continue this series.
During the regular season, Andersen was 13-8-1 with a GAA of 2.50 and a percentage of stops of 0.899 in 22 games. He missed almost three months in the middle of the season due to a knee injury.
“One of the great things about him is that he had so much … tests and tribulations throughout his career. He took months in leave, then enters the net and he has the impression that he did not miss an AA match,” said Brind’amour. “I don’t know how he does that, but I have the impression that he brings a unique skills set. We need it this evening, of course.”
Caroline Captain Jordan Staal said he was delighted to see Andersen having another chance.
When Brind’amour seemed to tell the players that Andersen would start when he gathered them in the center of the ice during the morning skate, Staal was one of the first to give a goal on the pads.
“He was a rock for us all year round,” said Staal. “When he feels it, he can steal matches and we need it right now, of course. We need a goalkeeper who will just give us a chance.
“I think our two guards can do it. It’s going to be good to see Freddy go back in there.”
