With Frederik Andersen (lower body) still sidelined, the Hurricanes will turn to Kochetkov between the pipes for a fifth straight game. The 25-year-old Kochetkov has a pedestrian 2.72 GAA and .878 SV%, partly due to the Hurricanes' elite shot suppression, which has translated to an excellent 6-1-0 record. The Hurricanes own a league-best seven-game winning streak and enter the action on Thursday as significant -262 home favorites against a Pittsburgh Penguins club they defeated 4-1 less than three weeks ago.
