The Carolina Hurricanes were down to the organization’s No. 3 goaltender Wednesday night after a collision during the first period.
But rookie Pyotr Kochetkov, 22, made 30 saves as the Hurricanes beat the Boston Bruins 5-2 for a 2-0 lead in their first-round series.
Bruins forward David Pastrnak had caught Antti Raanta in the mask with his glove as he skated by. The goalie dropped to the ice, had a cut on his mouth, left the game and didn’t return. A five-minute major was originally called but on review, it was changed to a two-minute minor for goalie interference.
“Obviously, he didn’t come back, so that’s not a good sign,” coach Rod Brind’Amour told reporters. “He was in good spirits after the game. I think tomorrow will tell.”
David Pastrnak is ultimately given a 2-minute penalty for goaltender interference on Antti Raanta, who has left the ice.
Pyotr Kochetkov has entered the game for Carolina. pic.twitter.com/W8TvTzXvkH
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 4, 2022
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WEDNESDAY’S GAMES: Lightning even series with Maple Leafs
It was the second consecutive day in which a backup goalie had to enter the game because of an injury. Tuesday, Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Louis Domingue was inserted in the second overtime after Casey DeSmith left. Domingue made 17 saves to pick up the win against the New York Rangers.
The Hurricanes play a strong defensive game that usually guarantees success for their goalies. Carolina’s three goaltenders from last season are gone, and free agents Frederik Andersen and Raanta won the Jennings Trophy this season for lowest team goals-against average.
Raanta, 32, got his first playoff start in Game 1 because of an April injury to Andersen and made 35 saves for a 5-1 victory.
Kochetkov allowed only two goals by Patrice Bergeron, one that deflected in off the Bruins captain’s skate. The goalie even got into a small scrap with pesky Bruins forward Brad Marchand.
The Hurricanes got two goals each from Sebastian Aho and Nino Niederreiter. Their power play, which struggled down the stretch, connected twice.
Kochetkov played in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League and later the American Hockey League this season before a late-season call-up after the Andersen injury. He has won all four of his appearances.
“He’s a very confident guy, awesome guy,” said Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov, who translates for the goalie. “When he gets the opportunity, he’s always ready for that. He knows that if something going to happen, he’s going to get in the net and going to show his best game.”
The Bruins play at home Friday down 2-0 and potentially without their No. 2 defenseman.
Hampus Lindholm didn’t return to the game after leaving in the second period. He was circling the net when Svechnikov caught him with a hard, clean hit.
Lindholm hit his head as he fell and needed help from teammates getting off the ice.
“I feel bad for that guy,” Svechnikov said. “It was a pretty hard hit.”
Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said Lindholm was “not doing well” and he thought the hit was high.
The Bruins acquired Lindholm from the Anaheim Ducks before the trade deadline and signed him to an eight-year, $52 million extension.
Cassidy went with goalie Linus Ullmark for the second consecutive game and said the team needed more timely saves.
“If we’re not going to get the timely saves, then we need more timely goals and we probably need a little bit of both,” he said.
Hat trick wiped out, then real one happens
Joel Eriksson Ek appeared to score the first playoff hat trick in Minnesota Wild history and the hats came raining down on the ice in the third period.
But it was all for naught. The St. Louis Blues challenged the goal for offsides and it was overturned.
No problem: Kirill Kaprizov scored an empty-net goal soon after for his third goal of the game. The hats didn’t go to waste.
The Wild won 6-2 to tie the series.
Thursday’s games
Penguins at Rangers, 7 p.m. ET, TNT. Penguins lead 1-0
Capitals at Panthers, 7:30 p.m. ET, TBS. Capitals lead 1-0
Predators at Avalanche, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT. Avalanche lead 1-0
Stars at Flames, 10 p.m. ET, TBS, Flames lead 1-0
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL playoffs: David Pastrnak hit knocks Antti Raanta out of Game 2