How Two Unlikely Goalies Saved Hurricanes and Senators Seasons

His consistency in net through the first half of the season was crucial in giving the Hurricanes a massive boost in the standings despite Kochetkov’s prolonged absence, as surgery was required, and Frederik Andersen’s cold streak.

Senators Lost Top Goalie, Rolled the Dice on Aging Veteran Netminder

Meanwhile, the Senators faced a similar dilemma as Carolina, though later in the season, during an equally crucial time.

In late December, Linus Ullmark – who has been a vocal advocate for mental health in hockey – took a leave of absence due to mental issues he had been battling through. The Senators then hit a skid as the position was given to 23-year-old goaltender Leevi Merilainen, with the 25-year-old Mads Sogaard backing him up.

In the midst of an 8-2 blowout loss at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche, the Senators announced that then 37-year-old James Reimer, ironically a former Hurricanes goalie, had been signed to a professional tryout contract.

Arguably, his signing saved their season.

Reimer brought a calm, experienced veteran presence to a young goalie team that had been shaken up, stopping the bleeding and earning the team a valuable Atlantic Division point in his first game – and further earning points in three of the five games played while Ullmark was out. He held a goals against average of 2.42 throughout his 14 games, earned a shutout, and helped the Senators achieve 16 points during his time in the crease.

As the two teams face each other in round one of the playoffs, with only one team being able to advance to the next round, it cannot be understated what the Hurricanes and Senators managed to achieve despite the hurdles set before them. Out of 32 teams in the league, only 16 can clinch a spot in the postseason. To be able to come so far while dealing with significant absences in something as decisive as goaltending is something to be appreciated, no matter which team you root for.

Also Read:: Beyond Numbers: A Long, Hard Look at Hurricanes Goaltending Going Into Postseason

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