Kochetkov Almost Got a Goal Against Nashville?? (EP 343)

December 19, 2025·44 min·3 clips

Hurricanes goalie Pyotr Kochetkov almost scored his first NHL goal against Nashville, stopped only by Roman Josi.

1. The Caniac Report Episode 343 opens with a callback to Pyotr Kochetkov nearly scoring his first NHL goal in the Hurricanes' win over Nashville. 2. Sam Wallace hosts and Andrew Miller co-hosts; Sam mentions he is recording through a cold, warning listeners about potential coughs in the episode. 3. The Pittsburgh Penguins' sale to the Hoffman family investment group — previously owned by Fenway Sports — is the first league news item, with the hosts speculating it could unlock pending moves involving Evgeni Malkin. 4. Andrew notes Malkin may be in the final year of his career and could be available to a contending team, and both hosts briefly discuss whether Carolina would want to kick the tires on him as a second-line center option. 5. Kevin Adams was fired as Buffalo Sabres GM and replaced by Yarmouk Heck-Lining as interim, prompting Andrew to call Adams's tenure an 'abject failure' both on the ice and in terms of public relations. 6. Andrew cites Adams's infamous comment about Buffalo not having palm trees as an example of his media struggles, and argues the ownership group — the Pegulas, who also own the Bills — treats hockey as a secondary priority and has drained five years of drafted talent through trades. 7. Elliot Friedman reported on his 32 Thoughts podcast that Carolina had a legitimate trade offer in for Quinn Hughes before Minnesota acquired him; the hosts estimate what Carolina might have offered using the Minnesota deal as a template. 8. Andrew breaks down a hypothetical Carolina Hughes package: a first-round pick, a prospect comparable to Gust Rossi such as Stankoven or Blake, Nick Kishin as a Booyah equivalent, and possibly Ryan Suzuki as a depth piece. 9. Andrew argues Carolina should not have made the deal because the team's defense is already elite and the real hole is a second-line center with size, offensive production, and power play capability — not another defenseman. 10. An injury update covers KK being out and Jordan Martinook leaving the Nashville game; the hosts discuss potential replacements including Eric Robinson, Taylor Hall, and call-up options like Giovanni Smith. 11. Eric Robinson is highlighted for a 23.3-mile burst speed registered during the Nashville game, with Andrew calling him a 'prototypical Rod Brind'Amour player' who grinds and scores greasy goals. 12. Sam and Andrew discuss the goalie tandem with Kochetkov and Andersen; Sam says he is reserving judgment on Kochetkov as a playoff starter until the goalie faces and recovers from his first bad game. 13. Kochetkov is described as aggressive by nature — he did back-to-back poke checks in a shootout in a prior episode — but the hosts note he is showing more composure and playing within himself rather than going all-or-nothing. 14. The Nashville game was dominated in the first period by Carolina but only produced one goal — a Jackson Blake score off a Nikitian shot — with the hosts agreeing the Hurricanes need to convert more when they have a team on the ropes. 15. Svechnikov had his long-awaited power play goal in the third period; Andrew notes that just before the goal, the entire power play showed a new willingness to shoot, and speculates Brind'Amour may have addressed the team at the intermission. 16. Andrew says he has always viewed Svechnikov's slow start as 'if not when' rather than a regression, describing him as a 30-goal scorer who was simply being too pass-happy and lacking confidence in his shot. 17. Seth Jarvis scored to make it 3-0, off a pass from Svechnikov and an Ehlers assist, with the hosts noting Jarvis is on a pace that flirts with 50 goals — though they do not expect him to reach it. 18. Nashville's Philip Forsberg scored to make the game closer after a rebound mishandle by Kochetkov, but Kochetkov responded with strong saves as Nashville pushed in the final minutes. 19. Svechnikov added an empty-net goal for a three-point night, which the hosts describe as the most needed individual performance from that group at this stage of the season. 20. The episode suits dedicated Hurricanes fans tracking the team's playoff readiness, goalie situation, and front-office moves heading into the trade deadline.

As heard by us

A near-goal in Nashville leads into Carolina's goaltending and depth talk.

The Caniac Report starts with a tight Nashville game and PK coming close to his first goal, then turns that moment into a positive read on Carolina's goaltending tandem.

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Why you'd press play

PK nearly scores, and Carolina's goaltending tandem starts to look legitimately promising after the Nashville near-miss.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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