Carolina Hurricanes Return Frederik Andersen for Must-Win Game 4 vs Panthers

The Carolina Hurricanes are turning back to goaltender Frederik Andersen for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers, aiming to avoid a sweep after falling behind 3-0 in the series. Andersen, who started Games 1 and 2 but struggled with a .750 save percentage, was replaced by Pyotr Kochetkov in Game 3, who allowed six goals and could not prevent the Panthers' 6-2 win. Despite Andersen's recent struggles, coach Rod Brind'Amour emphasized Andersen's experience and resilience, noting his strong regular season and earlier playoff performance with a league-leading save percentage before the conference final. The Hurricanes have been outscored 16-4 through the first three games and face an uphill battle, although the Panthers will be missing several key players in Game 4. Andersen's 82 career postseason starts and his unique ability to return from setbacks provide the Hurricanes with a glimmer of hope in this crucial elimination game. The series will shift back to Raleigh if Carolina can secure a victory in Game 4.