RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Carolina Hurricanes goalie Freddie Andersen returned to the ice with his teammates on Friday, showing no ill effects from an injury suffered in Game 4 of the Canes’ first-round playoff series with the New Jersey Devils.
“Yeah, obviously a good step today, and it’s good to be back with the boys,” said Andersen.
The Hurricanes have been holding their breath since the Devils’ Timo Meier blasted Andersen in the goalie crease on Sunday, sending him to the locker room and ending his series. Now, as the Hurricanes’ second-round series with the Washington Capitals is about to begin, it appears the Canes will have their top goalie back in the lineup.
“It’s what we thought, he practiced yesterday and today he felt good, so that’s a real positive,” said Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour.
Andersen said he was frustrated he couldn’t be on the ice when the Hurricanes wrapped up their series with the Devils.
“Yeah you never want to leave the game in the middle of a playoff series, but we were still able to close out the win and I’m happy about that, but obviously it sucks not being able to be out there,” said Andersen.
Carolina was able to close out New Jersey at home on Tuesday, but backup goalie Pyotr Kochetkov looked shaky in the net, giving up four goals, including three quick goals in the first period. With Andersen presumably back, the Canes feel confident heading into their series with the Capitals.
“He’s a high-pressure goalie and he’s been in a lot of big games in his career, and nothing overwhelms him,” said Hurricanes forward Taylor Hall. “Whenever he’s ready and good to come back to us, we’re excited to have him.”
Andersen, while happy to be back, still seemed frustrated with the play that knocked him out of Game 4.
“He’s supposed to go to the net but he put himself through the crease and I was quite surprised that it didn’t result in anything (penalty),” said Andersen.
Andersen has been the best goalie in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and had he not been able to return, the Hurricanes’ playoff chances would have taken a big hit.
“It’s the nature of that position, it always seems to fall on it,” said Brind’Amour. “You’ve got to get timely saves and give us a chance to stay in games when maybe we’re not playing our best, and that’s what he’s done for sure.”