dailyloe.com – The Carolina Hurricanes are not expected to make any lineup changes for Thursday’s Game 3 against the Ottawa Senators, according to the team’s projected lineup released April 23, 2026.
Head coach Rod Brind’Amour implied Frederik Andersen will start in goal again tonight, despite Andersen not taking the ice for the morning optional skate at Canadian Tire Centre.
“It’s all based on how he’s feeling. He’s playing well, and he feels good. It’s a pretty easy decision,” Brind’Amour said.
Andersen posted a shutout in Game 1 and allowed only two goals in nearly 100 minutes of Game 2 play.
His .967 save percentage and 0.78 goals against average lead all goaltenders in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The same 18 skaters from Games 1 and 2 in Raleigh are expected to take the ice this evening.
Forward Logan Stankoven aims to become the second player in franchise history to score in three straight postseason games.
His linemates Jackson Blake and Taylor Hall also seek to extend their point streaks to three games.
The projected forward lines include Svechnikov with Aho and Jarvis, Hall with Stankoven and Blake, Ehlers with Staal and Martinook, and Carrier with Jankowski and Robinson.
The defensive pairings are Slavin with Chatfield, Miller with Walker, and Gostisbehere with Nikishin.
Andersen is the projected starting goaltender.
No injuries were reported. Scratches include Nicolas Deslauriers, Pyotr Kochetkov, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and Mike Reilly.
The first power-play unit features Aho, Ehlers (Staal), Jarvis, and Svechnikov with Gostisbehere.
The second power-play unit includes Blake, Hall, Jankowski, and Stankoven with Nikishin.
Jordan Staal takes the faceoffs to start most power plays. If he wins, he stays on the ice.
When the puck leaves the zone, Staal jumps off and Nikolaj Ehlers joins the first unit.
If Staal wins for the second unit, Mark Jankowski replaces him when Staal exits.
Game 3 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Ottawa and will be broadcast on FDSN Hurricanes, HBO Max, and TBS Network.
