Hurricanes activate Frederik Andersen from injured reserve

Carolina Hurricanes netminder Frederik Andersen appears to nearing a return to action as he was activated from the injured reserve Friday, reports Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli.

Andersen has been sidelined since late October due to a lower-body injury. Four weeks later, it was determined that Andersen needed to undergo knee surgery.

It marks the second consecutive season that Andersen has missed significant playing time. In 2023-24, the Danish-born goaltender was limited 16 appearances due to a blood clot issue. Andersen wrapped up that season with a 13-2-0 showing with a .932 save percentage and 1.84 goals-against average before returning for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. There, Andersen helped the Hurricanes advance to the second round, posting six wins with an .895 save percentage and 2.62 goals-against average.

This season, though he has been limited to four appearances, Andersen has impressed in coming up with a 3-1-0 record alongside a .941 save percentage and 1.48 goals-against average. Per PuckPedia, the pending unrestricted free agent is in the final year of a two-year pact that carries a $3.4-million annual average value.

Andersen, 35, has seen 499 career contests counting stops with the Anaheim Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Hurricanes, in which he has notched a 298-128-52 showing. On two occasions, Andersen has been recognized with the William M. Jennings Trophy, awarded annually to the team whose goaltenders allow the fewest goals against.

In Andersen’s absence, the Hurricanes turned to 25-year-old Russian goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov. In 28 games, Kochetkov found the win column 16 times coupled with a .901 save percentage and 2.54 goals-against average.

On the season, the Hurricanes sit third place in the Metropolitan Division with a 26-16-3 record and 55 points. After falling to the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, the Hurricanes will look to rebound Friday when they battle the Vegas Golden Knights.