RALEIGH, N.C. — Pyotr Kochetkov’s four-year contract extension, announced Wednesday, was well-received by his Carolina Hurricanes teammates.
It showed in the goalie’s reception in the locker room after the morning skate at PNC Arena.
It didn’t show as much Wednesday night when Kochetkov was a surprise starter against the Arizona Coyotes.
The Coyotes won 4-0 as Nick Schmaltz scored 66 seconds into the game, Lawson Crouse scored twice and Nick Bjugstad had a goal in the third period. Goalie Karel Vejmelka made it stand up with his third career shutout. Vejmelka, big in net at 6-4 and 224 pounds and on his game, had 36 saves.
Kochetkov made some high-quality saves but got zero offensive support in what might have been the Canes’ worst loss of the season. The power play again was punchless — Andrei Svechnikov missed an open net in the first period —and there would be no late-game magic.
Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour pulled Kochetkov against Winnipeg on Monday with six minutes left in regulation and the Jets leading 3-0. The Canes responded with three goals with the extra attacker to tie the score before losing 4-3 in overtime.
Instead, Crouse scored his second with the net empty. The loss to the Coyotes (7-9-2) became the Canes’ 10th losing game of the season in 20 games — Carolina is 10-6-4.
Goalie Antti Raanta was a late scratch after apparently being injured at the morning skate. Adding more concern: Raanta did little during the pregame warmup, then did not not take a seat on the Canes bench at game time.
Suddenly, the situation is serious.
Goalie Frederik Andersen has not played since Nov. 6 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He left practice at Invisalign Arena two days later and was said to have tweaked something.
But Andersen did not make a quick return. He was placed on injured reserve Nov. 11 and has missed the past eight games, his return uncertain.
“Until you see him out there practicing I don’t have an update for you.” Brind’Amour said Wednesday. “He hasn’t been on the ice and it’s obviously a big concern for us. That’s your guy there and he’s unable to play. But until he’s lacing ‘em up and out there practicing …”
It will be Raanta and Kochetkov. And if Raanta is injured and with Andersen out, Kochetkov might have to start more games in the short term than anyone expected.
The announcement of Kochetkov’s extension — with an average payout of $2 million a season — was made while the Canes were on the ice Wednesday morning.
“He’s a great guy, always in a good mood with a smile on his face,” Canes center Sebastian Aho said. “He has a great work ethic, on and off the ice.
“He’s just a competitor. He just battles out there and fights to stop every puck.”
And feisty. Aho said that description fits.
“Feisty and a little crazy,” he said with a smile.
Kochetkov, 23, is still learning English. The native of Penza, Russia, is getting better at it but had Svechnikov serve as a translator Wednesday in discussing his extension.
“He said it’s a big step in his life and he’s very happy with that and is thankful for the trust from Carolina,” Svechnikov said.
That trust was built on a small sample set. The game Wednesday was his eighth in the NHL, not including the four appearances he made for Carolina in the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Kochetkov, a second-round draft pick by the Canes in 2019, was in the KHL in Russia before coming to North America last season. He had instant success with the Chicago Wolves in the AHL, going 13-1-1 and later was 5-1-1 in the Wolves’ run to the Calder Cup.
“He has little experience but he’s shown he can play,” Brind’Amour said Wednesday morning. “But it’s also the whole makeup of the player — his personality, his willingness to work hard and obviously his ability. It’s nice to have him in the mix.”
