Alexander Nikishin appears set to make his season debut Saturday night when the Carolina Hurricanes host the Chicago Blackhawks, with Rod Brind’Amour saying the plan is for the defenseman to be in the lineup if everything checks out.
Nikishin, 25, rejoined the roster after signing a one-year deal on Oct. 25 and then went through what Brind’Amour called a “mini training camp” to get back up to speed. At morning skate, he was working next to Shayne Gostisbehere and skating on the second power-play unit, a strong sign he’s ready for game action.
“That’s the plan as of right now,” said Rod Brind’Amour when asked if Nikishin would slot into the lineup this evening. “If everything checks out, that’s the way it should go.”
If he does play, Pyotr Kochetkov is expected to get the start in goal as he goes after his 11th win in 12 starts. The 27-year-old is looking to bounce back after his first loss of the season earlier this week, and he’s been sharp overall: second among NHL goaltenders with a 1.64 GAA and tied for sixth with a .922 save percentage among netminders with at least five games played. Against Chicago, he’s been even better, going 3-0-0 in three career appearances while allowing just four total goals.
Jackson Blake also has a chance to keep his hot stretch rolling. He enters the night riding a career-best eight-game point streak, with three goals and seven assists during that run. His 18 points in 18 games put him second on the team.
The Hurricanes’ projected forward groups have Carrier with Aho and Svechnikov on the top line, followed by Ehlers, Stankoven and Blake. Hall, Jankowski and Jarvis are lined up together, while Robinson, Kotkaniemi and Martinook make up the fourth unit.
On defense, Slavin is paired with Chatfield, Miller with Walker, and Gostisbehere with Nikishin. Kochetkov is listed as the starting goaltender.
Jordan Staal remains out with a calf tear and is expected to miss “a month or two” from Oct. 13. The scratches are Nic Deslauriers, Mike Reilly and Juuso Välimäki.
On the power play, the first unit is Aho, Blake, Ehlers, Svechnikov and Gostisbehere, while the second unit features Hall, Jankowski, Jarvis, Stankoven and Nikishin.
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