The Hurricanes will be without their captain for at least one month due to a calf tear. The 38-year-old veteran forward still plays a pivotal role for his team and is averaging 15:34 time-on-ice through six games.
Hurricanes Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour started Brandon Bussi in the first two games of the season, but he seems to be easing into a more balanced goalie rotation, with Kochetkov returning to the crease on Tuesday. The 27-year-old Kochetkov has been solid early this season, posting a 1.64 GAA and .912 SV% in three games (3-0-0). He saved 18 of 19 shots (.947 SV%) in his previous outing, a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. The Hurricanes enter Tuesday's contest as -149 home favourites against a 3-2-0 Washington Capitals team.
Hurricanes' Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour started Brandon Bussi in the first two games of the season, but he seems to be easing into an even goalie rotation, with Kochetkov tending the twine on Thursday in his second start of the season. The 27-year-old Kochetkov missed most of the 2025-26 season with a lower-body injury, but he played well in his return to action, saving 16 of 18 shots (.889 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. The Hurricanes enter Thursday's contest as enormous -337 home favourites against the surprisingly potent early-season offense of the Vancouver Canucks, who have scored 19 goals in their first four games (2-2-0).
Up to this point, Jarvis had been skating in a non-contact jersey, but he was a full participant in Thursday's am skate. Jarvis is not expected to play on Thursday, but this is a sign that his season debut could come in the not too distant future.
Hurricanes' Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour started Brandon Bussi in the first two games of the season, but he seems to be easing into an even goalie rotation, with Kochetkov tending the twine on Thursday in his second start of the season. The 27-year-old Kochetkov missed most of the 2025-26 season with a lower-body injury, but he played well in his return to action, saving 16 of 18 shots (.889 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. The Hurricanes enter Thursday's contest as enormous -337 home favourites against the surprisingly potent early-season offense of the Vancouver Canucks, who have scored 19 goals in their first four games (2-2-0).
Bussi emerged out of nowhere last season as a 27-year-old making his NHL debut, playing admirably in the Hurricanes' crease and ultimately helping lead them to a Stanley Cup. He carried that momentum into the 2026-27 season, saving 19 of 20 shots (.950 SV%) in his season debut, a 1-0 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers. That said, he struggled in his following outing, allowing five goals on 27 shots (.815 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals. The Hurricanes will likely alternate between Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov this season, but they will start Bussi on Tuesday for the third time in four games. Carolina enters the action on Tuesday as -117 road favourites against the Montreal Canadiens, who have scored eight goals in their first two games (1-0-1).
Valimaki was the Calgary Flames' 16th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, but has struggled to become an NHL regular. The 28-year-old Finnish defenseman had a breakout 2022-23 season for the Arizona Coyotes, scoring 34 points (4G / 30A) in 78 games, but struggled to follow that up and has spent significant portions of the past two seasons in the AHL.
Bussi emerged out of nowhere last season as a 27-year-old making his NHL debut, playing admirably in the Hurricanes' crease and ultimately helping lead them to a Stanley Cup. He carried that momentum into the 2026-27 season, saving 19 of 20 shots (.950 SV%) in his season debut, a 1-0 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers. That said, he struggled in his following outing, allowing five goals on 27 shots (.815 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals. The Hurricanes will likely alternate between Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov this season, but they will start Bussi on Tuesday for the third time in four games. Carolina enters the action on Tuesday as -117 road favourites against the Montreal Canadiens, who have scored eight goals in their first two games (1-0-1).
The Hurricanes were pretty liberal with their goalie rotation last season, and that's likely to be the case again in 2026-27, with a tandem of Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov. That said, it's hard to question Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour returning to Bussi for consecutive games after an impressive opening-night performance, saving 19 of 20 shots (.950 SV%) in a 1-0 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers. The Hurricanes enter Friday's contest as -141 home favourites against the Washington Capitals.
Primeau has had brief stints in the NHL each of the past several seasons, but he has primarily been an AHL netminder. The 27-year-old goalie had a 4.30 GAA and .838 SV% last season in three appearances with the Toronto Maple Leafs (2-1-0).
