Evgeny Kuznetsov is not playing in Game Two of the Carolina Hurricanes’ second-round series matchup against the New York Rangers. Carolina trails in the series 1-0.
According to the Hurricanes’ Walt Ruff, Kuznetsov did not take warmups and is sitting out for “undisclosed” reasons. ESPN’s Emily Kaplan late added on the telecast that he was a healthy scratch.
Hurricanes forward Max Comtois, a six-year NHL veteran, suited up in Kuznetsov’s place and is skating on the fourth line. Kuznetsov has four points (2g, 2a) in six games in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Comtois
Kotkaniemi
Noesen
The 2018 Stanley Cup champion comes out of the lineup after he had only four shifts and 3:22 of ice time in the third period of Game One where the Hurricanes lost 4-3. Kuznetsov did not skate in the final 5:53 of the game.
The two-time NHL All-Star took an undisciplined cross-checking penalty on Rangers defenseman Adam Fox 16:14 in the first period. Kuznetsov struck Fox in the face near the net.
Fourteen seconds later, Vincent Trocheck scored a power-play goal, giving the Rangers a 3-1 lead.
Kuznetsov’s 13:02 of ice time in Game One marked a personal high as he’s averaged only 11:37 per postseason game under Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour. During the regular season, Kuznetsov averaged 14:54 per night with the Canes. Before he was traded in early March, Kuznetsov received 18:47 per game with the Washington Capitals under Spencer Carbery.
Kuznetsov sitting comes on the six-year anniversary of the Russian centerman exorcising the Capitals’ demons and eliminating the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the 2018 playoffs via an overtime game-winner.
The Capitals would go on to win the Stanley Cup, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights. Kuznetsov led the NHL in playoff points that year.