The Carolina Hurricanes will rest several key players during their game against the Montreal Canadiens. Sebastian Aho, Jackson Blake, Jalen Chatfield, Seth Jarvis, Jordan Martinook, Jaccob Slavin, and Jordan Staal did not participate in the morning skate at Bell Centre, indicating their absence from the night’s contest.
With these players out, Skyler Brind’Amour and Domenick Fensore are set to make their NHL debuts, while Bradly Nadeau, the team’s first-round pick in 2023, will play his second NHL game. Nadeau, who leads all AHL rookies with 30 goals this season, made his NHL debut one year ago in Columbus.
Brind’Amour, who ranks third on the Wolves with 16 goals, is poised to become the fourth player from Raleigh to compete in the NHL. Fensore enters the lineup on the defensive end for his second professional season. Drafted in 2019, he ranks second among Chicago’s AHL defenders with 32 points.
In goal, Pyotr Kochetkov will continue the rotation, marking his final start of the regular season. This will be his second career game against Montreal, having previously recorded a shutout.
Betting odds from Fanatics Sportsbook place the Hurricanes at +100 for the game.
Projected lineup for the Hurricanes includes forwards Svechnikov, Kotkaniemi, Hall, Robinson, Jankowski, Roslovic, Carrier, Brind’Amour, Stankoven, Jost, and Nadeau. On defense, Orlov, Burns, Gostisbehere, Walker, Stillman, Morrow, and Fensore will play, with Kochetkov starting in goal and Andersen as backup.
Jesper Fast remains out for the 2024-25 season due to a neck injury.
