Kochetkov's Most Electrifying Saves Yet

RALEIGH, NC. - Pyotr Kochetkov has played just 40 career NHL regular-season games and yet it feels like he's already provided a career's worth of memorable moments.

Putting on another display of showmanship Tuesday night in Ottawa, the young Carolina Hurricanes netminder was the topic of social media after his diving penalty shot stop on Brady Tkachuk and ensuing words.

Providing flashbacks to his unyielding to Brad Marchand in the 2022 playoffs, today feels like a good time to reflect on some of Kochetkov's work since his team debut 599 days ago.

By Any Means Necessary...

After making his first appearance in New Jersey on April 23, 2022, who could forget when injuries forced the 2019 second-round pick to play three games in four days to start his career?

In addition to the heavy workload, it was a high-pressure situation for Kochetkov's second NHL start, as the Canes had an opportunity to win the Metropolitan Division against the Rangers.  New York trailed Carolina by just four points and a loss would have meant that things could have come down to the very last day of the season for the crown.

Instead, thanks to his stop on Jacob Trouba and then the swimming desperation follow-up on Filip Chytil, the Canes didn't have to worry about that, closing out the race right there and then.

If that sequence wasn't a sign of things to come from the young man, what was?

The First Diving Poke...

After starting the 2022-23 season in the American Hockey League, Kochetkov was recalled early in November 2022 and thrown immediately in against a high-powered Edmont offense.

During the second period, Zach Hyman of the Edmonton Oilers had a breakaway on the young netminder.  Calvin de Haan had missed a puck at the blue line and the dynamic forward was in the clear from the red line in.

As Hyman got ready to put on a move, Kochetkov saw the open ice as an opportunity, coming way out to challenge.

Robbery Against The Coyotes...

Under two weeks after his wowing save against the Oilers, #52 showed that it doesn't have to be a one-on-one situation to impress.

Following a zone entry for Arizona, our future-turned-former friend Shayne Gostisbehere set up Travis Boyd for what looked like a second period slam dunk.

Instead, Kochetkov never gave up on the play, putting his paddle flat across the line and keeping it out.

Tkachuk Tkachurned Aside...

With under five minutes to go at Canadian Tire Centre on Tuesday, the Senators Captain was awarded a controversial penalty shot.

The score was 4-1 and the game was already in hand for the Canes. Perhaps Kochetkov saw this as an opportunity to try and make a splash, or perhaps it was the Ottawa forward coming flying in with his head down that the netminder recognized.

Keeping the puck out and sending Tkachuk into the boards, the attempted shooter was not thrilled with the goaltender's attack. The barking was of no interest to the native of Penza, Russia though, as he gave it right back to the source.

Good In The Big Moments...

While those four are merely a sample of what Kochetkov has offered thus far, there have also been a handful of timely stops from #52 to either preserve a lead at an important juncture, keep a game tied, or halt a bad situation from getting worse.

Earlier in the night Tuesday in Ottawa he had an old-school-style stop that would've made Arturs Irbe smile.

Last month, it was an aggressive sliding save on Joel Farabee of the Philadelphia Flyers and he also showcased that the flying poke isn't just limited to breakaways.

In December of 2022, he had a massive denial on home ice in a game that resulted in Carolina overtaking New Jersey for first place in the division.

Signed through 2026-27 at a team-friendly $2M average annual value, the hope is that he'll provide more outstanding memories in the years to come.  Allowing just 90 goals in his 36 starts, only Adin Hill of the Vegas Golden Knights (87) has allowed fewer goals in games started since Kochetkov's debut (min. 40 games played).

With five shutouts during that same timeframe, only four NHL netminders (Ilya Sorokin, Alexander Georgiev, Jeremy Swayman, and Jake Oettinger) have produced more.

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