Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Antti Raanta is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks due to a lower-body injury amid a challenging season, while the team also faces potential lineup changes with defenseman Brett Pesce questionable and the return of star winger Andrei Svechnikov.
Carolina Hurricanes’ goalie, Antti Raanta, is benched for a bit. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour says it’s a lower-body injury keeping him out “at least a couple weeks.” It’s been a rollercoaster year for Raanta. From being placed on waivers to playing in the AHL, and now, his NHL save percentage sits at .872 after 24 games. Still, he’s almost neck and neck with Pyotr Kochetkov, the team’s top goalie, despite the Hurricanes’ injury woes.
At 34, Raanta’s hitting a career low in save percentage. The last time he dipped below .900 was his rookie year, way back in 2013-14. Injuries have plagued his 11-year career, limiting him to over 30 games in just three seasons.
His health struggles have pegged him as a backup, despite a respectable career record. He’s clocked in 139 wins and a .915 save percentage over 277 games. Remember 2017-18 with the Arizona Coyotes? Raanta was on fire, boasting a .930 save percentage and 21 wins in just 47 games.
Switching gears, the Hurricanes might also miss Brett Pesce this Saturday against the New Jersey Devils. The guy’s down with an illness, says team reporter Walt Ruff. This could open the door for Tony DeAngelo to step up. DeAngelo, 28, has only notched nine points in 22 games this season, a dip from his usual.
But here’s some good news. Andrei Svechnikov is making a comeback this Saturday after a six-game absence due to an upper-body injury. With 30 points in 29 games, he’s one of the Hurricanes’ key players, keeping up a point-per-game pace.
