Frederik Andersen set for Toronto return as Canes begin NHL stretch run on the road
After an enjoyable few days in Las Vegas for the NHL All-Star Game, Rod Brind’Amour was back in Raleigh at 6 a.m. Sunday, and soon back at work.
Starting Monday, the Carolina Hurricanes (31-9-2) play four road games in six days, opening with a back-to-back set against Toronto and Ottawa.
And they’ll do it without forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who entered the COVID-19 protocol Sunday.
“We’ll be jumping right back into it,” Brind’Amour said Sunday after a practice at the Wake Competition Center. “We’ve got to be ready to go and it will be a race to the finish.”
Brind’Amour coached the Metropolitan Division team to victory Saturday in the All-Star Game, saying it was the first “no-pressure” situation he has experienced as a head coach.
“It’s an easy job when you don’t have to worry, really, about the outcome,” he said, grinning.
There was a financial incentive for the players. Canes center Sebastian Aho and goalie Frederik Andersen were on the winning Metro team, which split the $1 million payoff — Aho also got a winning All-Star share in 2019.
Andersen and Aho were not at the Sunday afternoon practice that was conducted by Brind’Amour, and forward Steven Lorentz was to join the team in Toronto. The Canes had 10 forwards and seven defensemen on the ice, with goalie Antti Raanta and equipment manager Jorge Alves working the nets.
Andersen’s Toronto return
Andersen, who started twice in the three-on-three competition, must be hoping to keep riding the wave Monday against the Maple Leafs (29-10-3). It will be his return game to Toronto and Scotiaback Arena after the Canes’ Jan. 3 game in Toronto was postponed because of COVID-19 issues and rescheduled for the post All-Star startup.
Andersen spent five seasons with the Maple Leafs, winning 149 games, before leaving after last season to sign as a free agent with the Hurricanes. He was arguably the Canes’ MVP in the first half of his first season with Carolina, and is among the NHL leaders with 24 wins, a 2.01 goals-against average and .929 save percentage despite missing some time in the COVID protocol.
Andersen should get a warm reception from Leafs fans, and if he starts could be opposed by goalie Jack Campbell, an All-Star selection for the Leafs who played for the Atlantic Division in Las Vegas. Then again, it could be Petr Mrazek getting the start for Toronto against his former team.
First game in Toronto since ... David Ayres?
It will be the Canes’ first regular-season game against the Maple Leafs in Toronto since Feb. 22, 2020, when an emergency backup goalie became one of the league’s biggest stories. After Canes goalies James Reimer and then Mrazek were injured, David Ayres entered the game late in the second period and played well enough in net for the Canes to win 6-3 and Ayres to become a folk hero.
A side story: Andersen was the guy in net for the Maple Leafs that night, making 41 saves.
But Andersen is now looking to turn what has been a very good Canes season into a special season. After appearing in 30 of their first 42 games, he’ll continue to share the net with Raanta and both should get plenty of work down the stretch.
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Long home stretch
The Canes played 68 games in 2019-20 before the pandemic put an end to the regular season. The 2021 regular season was condensed to 56 games because of the pandemic. But it’s back to the 82-game schedule this season, with the physical and mental grind that goes with it.
“It’s a long climb,” Canes captain Jordan Staal said Sunday. “But it’s good. It’s good to have the regular season back with fans back in the buildings again and all that fun stuff.”
Staal said he spent the All-Star break with his family in Florida, taking the kids to Disney, resting up for what’s to come. Many of his teammates also got out of town for a few days, but were back at it Sunday.
“Maybe since we haven’t played 82 (games) in forever now all of a sudden it’s, ‘Wow, we’re only halfway done,’” Brind’Amour said. “It does feel like we should be gearing up for the playoffs but we’ve got to finish a whole slate of games here. You try to stay focused just on tomorrow and that game. It’s too much to think about.”
Carolina Hurricanes vs Toronto Maple Leafs
When: Monday, 7 p.m.
Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto.
TV/RADIO: Bally Sports South, WCMC-99.9 FM
This story was originally published February 7, 2022 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Frederik Andersen set for Toronto return as Canes begin NHL stretch run on the road."
