The Carolina Hurricanes are set to face the New Jersey Devils in Game 5 of their playoff series without goaltender Frederik Andersen, who is sidelined due to an upper-body injury sustained in Game 4. This opens the door for 25-year-old Pyotr Kochetkov to make his postseason debut. Coach Rod Brind'Amour confirmed Andersen's injury status, stating he is day-to-day. Andersen has been a pivotal player, posting a 1.59 goals-against average and .936 save percentage over the first four games. Kochetkov, who has had a rocky finish to the regular season, will need to step up after allowing an early goal in his last appearance but has shown resilience in bouncing back from tough starts.

The Hurricanes have emphasized a dual-goalie approach throughout the season, and Kochetkov's experience from starting 47 games this past year may prove beneficial. Despite a tough stretch at the end of the regular season, he had a strong showing earlier in the year where he won five straight starts. Brind'Amour believes in Kochetkov's ability, suggesting that the team might have considered starting him even without Andersen's injury. With the series on the line, Kochetkov is tasked with maintaining the Hurricanes' momentum as they aim for playoff advancement.