Canes' Andersen back in net for practice session
Posted May 23, 2022 1:50 p.m. EDT
Updated May 23, 2022 3:02 p.m. EDT
New York — Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen was back on the ice on Monday, practicing with the team at Madison Square Garden for the first time since he was injured late in the regular season.
Despite Andersen's participation, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said he's 'not an option' in regards to playing in Game 4.
"I'll tell you when he's an option, how about that?" said Brind'Amour when asked at Monday's media availability. "He's not an option right now."
"He's on the ice, that's good. He didn't really get into too much yet, but it's nice to see that it's moving along. We'll see where we're at when he's an option."
Andersen previously suffered a lower-body injury and has missed more than a month of action.
Serving as the team's No. 1 goalie this season with a 2.07 goals-against average and .926 save percentage, the injury appeared to put a dent in the team's prospects for a deep postseason run.
Goalie Antti Raanta, a 32-year-old who made his first playoff start in the first round, has held his own in the postseason, collecting his first career playoff shutout in Game 2 and making 27 saves in a 2-1 victory in Game 1.
Although the Hurricanes' road playoff woes continued on Sunday in a 3-1 loss in Game 3, Andersen's return to the ice served as a morale boost. The team got contributions from two goalies in runs to the Stanley Cup finals in 2002 and 2006.
"It was great to see him," said Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho. "Love to see Freddie out there, I don't think I scored once on him today."
Andersen has been hurt since April 16, when he was banged up in a 7-4 loss to Colorado. Late in the third period, Andersen appeared slow to get up after what making a save on a one-timer from Ben Meyers. Monday marked Andersen's first activity with the full team since getting hurt.
The Hurricanes have still yet to win a road playoff game, dropping three games in the first-round series against Boston in addition to Sunday's defeat. Carolina is 0-for-6 on the power play in the series and failed to capitalize on three power plays on Sunday.
"Our so-called top unit hasn't been very good," Brind'Amour said. "One group's been actually really good, creating a lot of chances."
Game 4 is scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m.
