Kochetkov to start in goal vs. Rangers, Raanta available as backup

New York — The Carolina Hurricanes' goalie situation is not as dire as originally feared.

The team will once again turn to 22-year-old rookie Pyotr Kochetkov to start for Tuesday night's potential division-clinching game against the New York Rangers, but Antti Raanta will be available as a backup.

Raanta left in the second period of Sunday's win against the Islanders with a lower-body injury but practiced Tuesday morning in New York.

"Nothing serious there, which is obviously huge," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said of Raanta. "I don't know that he's 100 percent. I think he's still a little nicked up. He could play if we needed him to, but we're not putting anybody in the lineup that's even 99 percent. Everyone's got to be 100 percent now to play."

Brind'Amour did not have an update on Frederik Andersen's status or if he would be available for the playoffs. Andersen, the Hurricanes' starting goalie for most of the season, has not played since suffering a lower-body injury on April 16. Brind'Amour plans to find out more about Andersen when the team on Wednesday after the team returns to Raleigh.

The Hurricanes have won their last four games and can clinch the Metropolitan Division with a win against the Rangers. "We started this season in September to finish 82 games. We're not going to be the best team overall, but the best team in your division is the next best thing," said Brind'Amour.