Rod Brind'Amour has frequently noted his Carolina Hurricanes would need goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov in a playoff run even as veteran Frederik Andersen played well in a lead role.

Three teams are already on the brink of elimination in this year's NHL playoffs. Here's one trend from every series.

Even if Frederik Andersen is fine, Game 5 is a good time, with a 3-1 lead on the Devils, for the Hurricanes to get Pyotr Kochetkov some playoff game action.

Frederik Andersen left the game after the Devils’ Timo Meier ran into him in the second period, but the Hurricanes survived ...