標籤: goaltender

The Carolina Hurricanes are no strangers to the heated competition of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, nor are they unfamiliar with the vice grip-like pressure of their opponents’ passionate fan bases. However, Saturday was a step into uncharted territory with an in-depth statement from an unexpected source.

On May 2, immediately after Game 1, a new episode of NBC Sports Philadelphia’s podcast, flyers talkBroadcast. In it, Flyers television play-by-play announcer Jim Jackson, Flyers reporter and host Ashlyn Sullivan, and reporter Jordan Hall reflect on the opening second-round series with the Hurricanes, and discuss what will be needed in the upcoming games.

However, to Jackson, a taboo topic was brought up that sounded like a call to injure Hurricanes goaltender Frederick Anderson.

Jackson said, “You have to get into Freddy Andersen’s grill; he’s not a goaltender who likes that stuff – he also gets injured by contact.” “I’m not saying ‘Go ahead, try to hurt him’, but if there is physical contact, there’s a possibility he could get hurt.”

However, despite an apparent effort to clear it up, he appeared to repeat the previous statement moments later.

“He’s one of those goaltenders that you want to take out of his game any way you can, and if he gets hurt, that’s OK – because he has a history of injuries, and he has a history of struggling a little bit in the playoffs when he gets off track a little bit.

“So, I think the Flyers are going to have to put in a little more effort to get him to that point.”

Physicality has always been a part of hockey, and especially so in the postseason, but it would seem that the suggestion of getting hurt by people with such a respected position is a bit unprecedented.

One Hurricanes fan analyzed, “It seems they don’t believe their team is good enough to beat the Canes and the only way they have is to intentionally make contact with Freddy and injure him.” “When someone makes a statement like that and then tries to soften it with a “but” you know what he’s expecting.”

“It’s crazy that he, a “professional”, thought that; but especially, he said it out loud,” said another.

“There is a former Flyer who will punish this behavior,” another fan said, referencing enforcer and grinder Nicolas Deslauriers, whom the Hurricanes acquired at the trade deadline.

Seriously, it’s a shame anyone would shed light on injury-related strategies, it’s something that has become all too common outside of the media and in the dark corners of sports fans, and as such, it’s no surprise that such ideas have made their way into the mainstream.

Perhaps this is less the result of passionate fans amid bitter postseason rivalries, and more a symptom of the times – a streak of darkness that society has allowed into its hearts and minds due to the toxic nature that has become common in the digital age.

Hopefully, there will be no wrongdoing in this dilemma – for either party.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

The Detroit Red Wings need to make big changes and rumors are already flying. Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman clearly stated in the post-season conference call that the team needed better players to advance in the Stanley Cup playoffs. In fact, one NHL insider has an idea for Detroit in a potential trade this summer.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes the Red Wings should focus on St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington during the offseason, according to an insider on the 32 Thoughts Podcast. Friedman didn’t think John Gibson and Cam Talbot were problems, but would represent a potential upgrade.

Binnington was the starting goaltender for Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, leading them to a silver medal. Meanwhile, the 32-year-old goaltender struggled to perform in St. Louis, posting an .873 save percentage and allowing 3.33 goals per game. Although the statistics were not good, Binnington is still a good goaltender.

Prior to his struggles during the 2025–26 NHL season, Binnington had two campaigns with a save percentage over .900 and fewer than 2.9 goals allowed per game. When it matters most, the St. Louis goaltender shows up, as he did in the 2026 Olympics and his last two appearances in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

There are a few things that can stop a potential deal. Detroit’s system has a plethora of highly regarded goaltender prospects. With top prospects Sebastian Cosa and Trey Augustin on the sidelines, the organization may be more willing to ride with Gibson again and show patience.

After all, the Red Wings have other areas of need, including an elite forward and a new bottom six. For now, it’s an interesting idea, but Binnington may not need it.

Read more: Blockbuster trade brewing? Detroit Red Wings Eye Major 2026 Offseason Move

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

The game between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders had some ups and downs… but most of them happened before the puck even dropped at UBS Arena.

On Monday, the Hurricanes recalled two players from the Chicago Wolves, Felix Unger Sorum – who was Chicago’s leading scorer, and Pyotr Kochetkov – the goaltender projected to miss the remainder of the season.

Then, on the morning of the game, defensemen Joel Nystrom and Ronan Seely were recalled.

Roster dilemma leads to emergency backup goaltender assignment

Two hours before the game, head coach Rod Brind’Amour spoke to the media and confirmed that all three skaters – and Kochetkov – would play against the Islanders. However, a monkey wrench was thrown into that plan less than an hour before puck drop.

Kochetkov was pulled from the ice shortly after warmups began, as it was then announced that he would not be able to start due to roster technicalities. Furthermore, the problem came with an additional issue, as Frederik Andersen was unavailable to play.

Thus, Long Island native Brandon Bussey took the crease for the second consecutive night. The emergency backup goaltender was 28-year-old Thomas Sullivan, who played seven games for nearby Stony Brook University between the ACHA’s 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons, and previously warmed the bench as an emergency goaltender for the Washington Capitals in a game against the Islanders during the 2022–23 season.

game highlights

Early in the first period, Nikolaj Ehlers scored the Hurricanes’ first goal of the game, with the primary assist coming from Unger Sörum, making his second-inning of his NHL career. It was a good frame for the 20-year-old forward, who also hit the post on a shot from the right face-off circle. You could see he was enjoying the occasion too.

“It’s been really fun,” he said during the first intermission. “I’ve just been smiling all day, and just waiting for this moment, so it’s been really fun.”

To make the moment even more special for the young winger, he was joined in the stands by his family, who had traveled from Norway and Sweden.

“This is very special,” he said. “They’ve helped me a lot on my journey so far, and I have a lot to thank them for. So, it’s been really fun to have them visit here.”

In the second period, the Islanders went to work during a delayed penalty, with Bo Horvat finding the back of the net to hold the Hurricanes to 54 seconds, tying the game and scoring the 300th NHL goal of his career in the process. Additionally, the second assist came from Victor Eklund, younger brother of San Jose Sharks top-six forward William Eklund, in his NHL debut.

In the third period, Mark Jankowski scored the go-ahead goal with just over five minutes remaining in regulation. This proved to be the game-winner, as neither team was able to score after the Islanders pulled their goaltender.

A rare occurrence, the Hurricanes fell behind 29–21, but ultimately won 2–1.

storm notes

No clear explanation was ever given regarding the roster issue other than a ‘roster technicality’. After the trade deadline, teams do not have a roster limit and are limited only by salary cap rules. Thus, the impression is created that this was merely a matter of paperwork.

With the Boston Bruins clinching the top Eastern Conference wild card with a 4–0 win over the New Jersey Devils, the Hurricanes are scheduled to face the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the playoffs.

Scoring their 113th point with the win over the Islanders, the Hurricanes finished second in the entire league, guaranteeing home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs over the top-place Colorado Avalanche.

During the third period, William Carrier took a blow to the face while on the bench. He left the game after some time.

Not only was Felix Unger Sorum’s family present during the game, but Ronan Seely’s father as well as Brandon Bussey’s family were also confirmed to be in attendance.

On Tuesday, it was the first time since April 13, 2023 that the Hurricanes finished the regular season with a win, when they defeated the Florida Panthers 6–4.

Nikolaj Ehlers was the only player to skate in all 82 games for the Hurricanes this season.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, stories and content you may have missed on Monday.

montreal canadiens news

We’ve landed the top spot in our annual Montreal Canadiens prospect rankings, as voted on by Habs fans. Dynamic forward Michael Hayes earned the No. 1 spot because of his elite skill set, not to mention he has already established himself as one of the top players in the NCAA. It remains to be seen how long he’ll stay in the NCAA, and whether the Habs will want him to spend some time in the AHL before graduating to the NHL, but there’s no doubt that Hayes represents Montreal’s best hopes of drafting an elite player from their current prospect pool. [Canadiens Top 20 Prospects – No. 1 Dynamic Michael Hage]

Our analyst Ronnie Hermo took a deep dive into the data prepared by Samuel Montembeault, Jacob Dobbs and Jacob Fowler and the results may surprise you! Well, sensationalism aside, Ronnie always does a great job, and in this case, he has shed some important light on the current situation. While Dobbs has managed to win more games, the statistics show that Montembeault has also played relatively well. [Canadiens Analysis: – Which Goalie Should Start Down The Final Stretch Of The Season]

The Canadiens are reportedly interested in trading for Robert Thomas, but the cost would be too high. This makes sense, because Thomas is at his statistical peak, and you rarely see a player of his talent become available for trade. According to the report, the trade package would also include top Canadiens prospect Hayes, among others.

Sources show that #GoHabsGo One of the more interested teams revolving around Robert Thomas.

That being said, the price set by Doug Armstrong is too high for the Habs at this time.

The Blues reportedly want Michael Hayes in any package for Thomas.https://t.co/GOp9eeQdP7

– Marco D’Amico (@mndamico) 2 March 2026

Laval rocket is doing its job properly. In addition to being the center of entertainment in Laval, they are set to honor firefighters with new jerseys over the weekend. They will then auction off the jerseys and the proceeds will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. This is a great initiative that clearly deserves our support. On that note, even if they aren’t supporting any important charities, I would still suggest going to see Rocket, as it offers the best bang for your buck when it comes to the entertainment budget. In particular, families benefit from the reasonable costs, great ambiance and great facilities at Place Bell.

ready for anything
ready for everything

The Rockets will wear this uniform during the All Fire All Flame game in collaboration with the Laval Fire Department to benefit the Canadian Cancer Society next Saturday at Place Bell. Sweaters will be available here… pic.twitter.com/wp6gh57Nvx

– Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) 2 March 2026

Adam Nicholls continues to be one of the most important members of the Canadiens organization, helping young players become confident NHLers.

Besides, he also has a very good shot!

Habs give Michigan chances to score with help from Michael Hayes

pic.twitter.com/2X5RWTFlRz

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 28 February 2026

ICYMI: Netminder Jacob Fowler took the No. 2 spot in our Canadiens prospect rankings. All things considered, he has shown that he can be a dominant presence in every league from the USHL to the NHL, but we should be wary of thrusting him into the NHL spotlight too quickly. He still needs to absorb as much experience as possible in the AHL before the pressure of becoming Montreal’s starter comes. [Canadiens Top 20 Prospects – No. 2 Stoic Fowler]

Sportsknot Network

The 2026 NHL trade deadline is less than a week away. The New Jersey Devils are out of playoff position and possibly looking to prepare for next season. After all, preparing in the spring to rebuild in the summer is in GM Tom Fitzgerald’s DNA. That’s what they did when they acquired Jake Allen two deadlines ago. Despite some players with expiring contracts, the Devils still have value moving forward next Friday with some short-term deals with favorable cap hits. [New Jersey Devils]

The Toronto Maple Leafs are poised to be a very busy seller this week. The trading deadline will take effect on Friday at 3pm Eastern. The pending unrestricted free agents are most likely to be gone, although the majority of the team is available at the right price. [Toronto Maple Leafs]

The Minnesota Wild are looking for an upgrade at center by the NHL trade deadline. After trading for defenseman Quinn Hughes, the Wild hope to complete their roster to make a big push at the Stanley Cup. Now, Minnesota is being linked to a big trade of the Olympic gold medalist to Team USA. [Minnesota Wild]

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont