Hurricanes switch goalies for Game 3, starting Kochetkov over Andersen against Panthers

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes switched goalies for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals, starting Pyotr Kochetkov in net against the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

It worked. For two periods, anyway.

Kochetkov gave up five goals in the third period, and the Panthers turned a tie game into a rout. Florida won 6-2, taking a 3-0 lead in the East title series.

“I can’t blame him. He kept us in there," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "I mean, it wasn’t a ton of work. It's not like we’re giving up tons and tons of shots, but when we did, especially early, and he was good. And then the third period was what it was.”

Kochetkov — who finished Saturday with 22 saves on 28 shots — played the third period of Game 2, stopping four of the five shots he faced in Carolina's 5-0 loss. The Hurricanes were outscored 10-2 in the first two games of the series, with Frederik Andersen giving up nine goals on just 36 shots.

Brind'Amour said he made the switch for Saturday to “just change the vibe a little bit.”

“I don’t blame Freddie on any of the goals that went in," Brind'Amour said. "Obviously, save percentage is not great, if you look at that. We do need some saves, but I can’t blame him on any. All the goals have been great shots or plays by them.”

Kochetkov has started just over half of Carolina’s games over the last two seasons, going a combined 50-29-7 with a 2.48 goals-against average and .903 save percentage.

The Hurricanes took him with a second-round pick in the 2019 draft and he made his NHL debut for the club late in the 2021-22 season.

Saturday’s game against Florida was his 10th playoff appearance and fourth postseason start.

”He's a kid that we’ve had in there all year," Brind'Amour said. "And he played well for us, so that’s why.”

Kochetkov went 2-0-0 in two previous starts against Florida, both in the regular season. He had a 45-save shutout against the Panthers on Feb. 22, 2024, and stopped 25 of 26 shots in a 3-1 win in Sunrise on Jan. 2.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola, left, shoots to score a goal against Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov, right, during the third period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (52) defends the goal against Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) during the second period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

The puck gets past Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov on a goal scored by Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola during the third period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

The puck gets past Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov, center, on a goal scored by Florida Panthers' Aleksander Barkov during the third period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand (63) reacts after scoring a goal against Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (52) during the third period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Florida Panthers' Aleksander Barkov (16) tips the puck past Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (52) for a goal during the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (52) watches the puck from between Florida Panthers' A.J. Greer (10) an Matthew Tkachuk (19) during the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Florida Panthers' Aleksander Barkov, right, celebrates his goal with Florida Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk (19) as Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (52) looks on during the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) at Denver (13-3)

Sunday, 4:25 EST, CBS.

BetMGM NFL Odds: Broncos by 12 1/2.

Against the spread: Chargers 8-7-1; Broncos 6-9-1.

Series record: Broncos lead 72-58-1.

Last meeting: Chargers beat Broncos 23-20 on Sept. 21, 2025, in Inglewood, California.

Last week: Chargers lost to Texans 20-16; Broncos beat Chiefs 20-13.

Chargers offense: overall (12), rush (12), pass (15), scoring (T-16).

Chargers defense: overall (4), rush (9), pass (6), scoring (7).

Broncos offense: overall (9), rush (19), pass (9), scoring (14).

Broncos defense: overall (3), rush (2), pass (8), scoring (4).

Turnover differential: Chargers plus-4 ; Broncos minus-5.

QB Trey Lance is making his sixth career start and first for the Chargers. He's appeared in three games this season, completing 7 of 13 passes for 90 yards with no touchdowns, no interceptions and two sacks.

WR Courtland Sutton surpassed 1,000 yards last week, but he dropped a touchdown pass and caught just four of the 10 passes Bo Nix threw his way. Sutton has 73 receptions for 1,012 yards and seven TDs this season, a similar output to last year when he caught 81 passes for 1,081 yards and eight TDs.

The Chargers offensive line and backup QB versus Denver's dominant pass rush. The Broncos have had a franchise-record and NFL-best 64 sacks so far and are within striking distance of the NFL record of 72 set by the 1984 Chicago Bears, who had a dozen in their season finale that year.

Chargers: Coach Jim Harbaugh said he's sitting QB Justin Herbert (left hand) for the finale along with several other starters. Rookie RB Omarion Hampton (ankle) missed practice time this week as did CB Nikko Reed (hamstring) and OL Jamaree Salyer (hamstring). Harbaugh said he doesn't expect Salyer to play Sunday.

Broncos: LB Dre Greenlaw has been dealing with a hamstring injury and won't play in the finale. WR Pat Bryant (concussion), TE Nate Adkins (knee) and DL John Franklin-Meyers (hip) were limited in practice this week.

The Chargers have won all three games against Denver and Sean Payton with Jim Harbaugh as head coach. All three have been one-score games.

The Chargers clinched a playoff berth for the second straight season, the first time that's happened since they reached the postseason four consecutive times from 2006-09. ... The Bolts are coming off a 20-16 loss to Houston in which they were 2 of 5 in the red zone while the defense allowed a pair of rare long touchdown passes to open the game. K Cameron Dicker missed a field goal from inside 40 yards for the first time in his career and pulled an extra point wide for the first time this season. ... The Chargers are the only team that's unbeaten (5-0) in the AFC West this season. ... RB Omarion Hampton has a touchdown in three of his past four games. ... WR Quentin Johnston is coming off a 98-yard performance in Week 17. ... WR Keenan Allen had seven catches for 65 yards and a touchdown against Denver in Week 3. ... The Broncos were the first team to clinch a playoff spot and can earn the AFC's No. 1 overall seed with a win Sunday. The Broncos won the AFC West for the first time since 2015, ending the Kansas City Chiefs' nine-year reign atop the division. ... Broncos QB Bo Nix is tied for the second-most victories over the first two seasons at his position with 23. With a win Sunday, he'll tie Russell Wilson's NFL record of 24 wins in his first two seasons. ... Nix needs one TD pass to become the fourth QB in NFL history with at least 25 in each of his first two seasons. ... Nix is the third player ever, joining Herbert and Peyton Manning, with 3,500-plus passing yards and 25 or more TD passes in each of his first two NFL seasons. ... RB RJ Harvey leads rookies with a dozen TDs this season. He's scored a TD in five consecutive games. ... LB Nik Bonitto had two sacks in Week 3 against the Chargers.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden (86) celebrates his touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (8) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Justin Herbert (10) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)