Smith is a healthy scratch for Monday's game in Vancouver.
Smith will take a seat on Monday to allow Tye Fellhaber to make his NHL debut. Smith is yet to register a point in nine games this season split between the Sharks and Avalanche.
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Carolina Hurricanes News
Goalie Start
Kochetkov will start against the Senators on Friday.
The Hurricanes will roll with Kochetkov for a fifth straight game on Friday when they host the Ottawa Senators. Kochetkov was solid in his previous outing, saving 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks, but has battled some adversity lately, allowing three or more goals in four of his last five, posting a .865 SV%. The Hurricanes enter Friday's contest as sizeable -210 home favorites against a Senators club with points in four of their previous five games (3-1-1).
Ehlers (lower-body) returned to practice in a non-contact jersey on Friday.
Ehlers has not played since suffering a lower-body injury last Friday but appears to be nearing a return to the lineup. Before his injury, the 28-year-old Ehlers was pacing for a career-best offensive season, with 25 points (9G / 16A) in 24 games.
Miller (upper-body) has been placed on IR.
Miller played 13:42 TOI before leaving Wednesday's game in Buffalo. He will miss at least a week after being placed on Injured Reserve. The 24-year-old defenseman saw expanded minutes following the Jacob Trouba trade, averaging over 23 minutes per game in the two games before Wednesday.
Goalie Start
Kochetkov is in the starter’s crease at Carolina’s morning skate.
The Hurricanes will likely roll with Kochetkov for a fifth straight game on Friday when they host the Ottawa Senators. Kochetkov was solid in his previous outing, saving 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks, but has battled some adversity lately, allowing three or more goals in four of his last five, posting a .865 SV%. The Hurricanes enter Friday's contest as sizeable -210 home favorites against a Senators club with points in four of their previous five games (3-1-1).
Miller left Wednesday's game with an upper-body injury and did not return.
Miller played 13:42 TOI before leaving Wednesday's game in Buffalo. It will be a big blow to the Rangers' blueline if Miller is forced to miss some time. He saw expanded minutes following the Jacob Trouba trade, averaging over 23 minutes per game in the two games before Wednesday. The Rangers did not have an update on Miller's status post-game, so consider him questionable to play Saturday vs. the Kings.
Smith will make his Avalanche debut on Tuesday.
Smith was an additional piece in a trade with Mackenzie Blackwood that sent Alexandar Georgiev and Nikolai Kovalenko to San Jose Sharks on Monday. The 26-year-old Smith was limited to only six games with the Sharks this season, averaging 6:17 time-on-ice in a fourth-line role, and will likely serve a similar role in his new home with the Avalanche.
Goalie Start
Kochetkov will start against the Sharks on Tuesday.
The Hurricanes are battling a tough stretch, losing four of their last five, and will roll with Kochetkov between the pipes for a fourth straight game. The 25-year-old Kochetkov has had an up-and-down 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.68 GAA and .893 SV% through 16 appearances (11-4-0). He has allowed three or more goals in four straight outings (1-2-0), posting an ugly .854 SV%. The Hurricanes enter Tuesday's contest as enormous -500 home favorites against a San Jose Sharks club outscored 11-2 in their last two games (0-2-0).
Smith has been reassigned to Chicago (AHL).
Smith was the 17th overall pick of the New Jersey Devils in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft but has had trouble establishing himself at the NHL level. The 24-year-old puck-moving defenseman has not played an NHL game since a nine-game stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2022-23 season.
Smith is expected to make his Avalanche debut on Tuesday in Pittsburgh.
Smith was an additional piece in a trade with Mackenzie Blackwood that sent Alexandar Georgiev and Nikolai Kovalenko to San Jose Sharks on Monday. The 26-year-old Smith was limited to only six games with the Sharks this season, averaging 6:17 time-on-ice in a fourth-line role, and will likely serve a similar role in his new home with the Avalanche.
Goalie Start
Kochetkov was in the starter's crease at Carolina's morning skate.
The Hurricanes are battling a tough stretch, losing four of their last five, and will roll with Kochetkov between the pipes for a fourth straight game. The 25-year-old Kochetkov has had an up-and-down 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.68 GAA and .893 SV% through 16 appearances (11-4-0). He has allowed three or more goals in four straight outings (1-2-0), posting an ugly .854 SV%. The Hurricanes enter Tuesday's contest as enormous -500 home favorites against a San Jose Sharks club outscored 11-2 in their last two games (0-2-0).
Colorado has acquired Mackenzie Blackwood, Givani Smith, and a 2027 5th round pick from San Jose for Alexandar Georgiev, Nikolai Kovalenko, a 2026 2nd round pick and a 2025 5th round pick.
Smith was an additional piece in a trade with Mackenzie Blackwood that sent Alexandar Georgiev and Nikolai Kovalenko to San Jose Sharks. The 26-year-old Smith was limited to only six games with the Sharks this season, averaging 6:17 time-on-ice in a fourth-line role, and will likely serve a similar role in his new home with the Avalanche.
Goalie Start
Kochetkov will start in New York on Saturday.
Deslauriers (upper-body) has been placed on IR retroactive to November 9th and is considered day-to-day.
Deslauriers has been sidelined for 11 straight games due to an upper-body injury. The 33-year-old Deslauriers has been limited to only seven games this season, tallying one point (0G / 1A) and 15 hits while averaging 6:05 time-on-ice.
Goalie Start
Kochetkov will start vs. Colorado on Thursday.
Kochetkov had a rough return in his first game back from a concussion on Tuesday as he allowed four goals on 28 shots (.857 SV%) in a loss to Seattle but will have a chance at redemption vs. Colorado as he takes the crease Thursday. The 25-year-old has had an up-and-down season despite his 10-3-0 record, with a 2.55 GAA and .900 SV%. He will host the Avalanche on Thursday, who have lost three of their last five games but had an inspiring 5-4 comeback win over Buffalo their last time out.
Goalie Start
Kochetkov will start against the Kraken on Tuesday.
Kochetkov has not played since November 23rd due to a concussion but will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. The 25-year-old Kochetkov has a 2.42 GAA and .904 SV% in 13 appearances this season (10-2-0). The Hurricanes have been outscored 12-3 in their last two games (0-2-0) but enter Tuesday's contest as -245 home favorites against a Kraken club averaging 2.84 goals per game.
Ehlers (lower-body) is expected to miss the next 7-10 days.
Ehlers exited Friday's game against Vegas, did not play on Sunday against Dallas, and will be out of the lineup for approximately 7-10 more days. The 28-year-old Ehlers was pacing for a career-best offensive season, with 25 points (9G / 16A) in 24 games. The Jets have recalled Brad Lambert from Manitoba (AHL) in the interim.
Goalie Start
Kochetkov (concussion) is expected to start vs. Seattle on Tuesday.
Kochetkov has not played since November 23rd due to a concussion but will likely return to the crease on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. The 25-year-old Kochetkov has a 2.42 GAA and .904 SV% in 13 appearances this season (10-2-0). The Hurricanes have been outscored 12-3 in their last two games (0-2-0) but enter Tuesday's contest as -245 home favorites against a Kraken club averaging 2.84 goals per game.
Ehlers (lower-body) has been placed on IR retroactive to November 29th.
Ehlers will be out of the lineup until at lest December 7th after being placed on Injured Reserve with a lower-body injury. The 28-year-old Ehlers was pacing for a career-best offensive season, with 25 points (9G / 16A) in 24 games. The Jets have recalled Brad Lambert from Manitoba (AHL) in the interim.
Stankoven (lower-body) will return on Monday in Utah.
Stankoven has missed the last two games due to a lower-body injury but will re-enter the lineup on Monday against the Utah Hockey Club. The 21-year-old Stankoven is in the mix for the Calder Trophy, with 15 points (4G / 11A) in 21 games but has been held off the scoresheet in five of his last six.
