Pyotr Kochetkov Returns To Crease Following One-Game Absence

The Carolina Hurricanes will have their number one goaltender back in action tonight as Pyotr Kochetkov returns to the net.

Rod Brind'Amour confirmed earlier on Sunday that Kochetkov would be starting against the St. Louis Blues following a one-game absence.

Kochetkov was pulled early in the Canes' Wednesday night game in Utah and Brind'Amour had stated that he was dealing with just a bit of "wear and tear."

After Frederik Andersen went down with injury, Kochetkov had started seven of the Canes' next eight games so it does line up and it probably didn't help that Sean Walker crashed hard into him Wednesday as well.

Last night, with Kochetkov out, Spencer Martin manned the crease with Yaniv Perets backing him up, and he made a 24-save shutout, the first of his career.

Related: "I Really Feel That It's Meant To Be": Spencer Martin Takes The Wheel

If, knock on wood, no more injuries pop up, Kochetkov and Martin will be manning Carolina's net for the long haul and Kochetkov should be getting a large bulk of those starts.

The Russian netminder has a 8-2-0 record this season with a 0.897 save percentage and 2.56 goals against average.

Related: Surgery A Possibility For Hurricanes Netminder Frederik Andersen