MORRISVILLE, N.C. — Frederik Andersen’s illness — which cropped up between the morning skate and Wednesday’s game, leaving Pyotr Kochetkov as the surprise backup on the bench — has made moot for the moment any discussion of the Carolina Hurricanes’ goaltending situation.
Until it becomes as clear that Andersen is available as it was unclear what was going on Wednesday night, it’s Antti Raanta’s net for the foreseeable future. Which, given the way he’s played to help the Hurricanes to a 2-0 series lead over the New York Islanders, is how it should be, and was going into Game 2 regardless of Andersen’s status.
Throw in Kochetkov’s stellar albeit limited record in relief and there’s no reason for concern, as jarring as it is to see Andersen sitting in the press box during a playoff game, a reminder of darker times a year ago. At some point, given Raanta’s history — he was injured during both playoff series last year, although it’s hard to downgrade his durability when David Pastrnak is plowing into him like a garbage truck with no brakes — the Hurricanes are probably going to need Andersen.
