The Carolina Hurricanes are one win away from advancing to the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs after a 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils Sunday afternoon.

After the game, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour along with Jackson Blake, Pyotr Kochetkov, Jordan Staal, Jaccob Slavin and Andrei Svechnikov spoke with the media in New Jersey. Here's what they had to say:

Hurricanes Push Devils To Brink Of Elimination With 5-2 Game 4 Win A strong start and a composed finish helped propel the <a href="http://thn.com/carolina" target="_blank">Carolina Hurricanes</a> to a 5-2 win Sunday afternoon in Game 4 in <a href="http://thn.com/newjersey" target="_blank">New Jersey</a>.

Rod Brind'Amour

On Frederik Andersen's status: He's going to get checked out tomorrow. Obviously he wasn't good enough to continue, so that's not a good sign. But I don't have any other information, so we'll know more I guess tomorrow when he gets evaluated.

On his thoughts on the collision: I don't know. What am I going to say? Will just get in trouble. So forget it. Move on.

On Pyotr Kochetkov stepping in: You can't ask for a tougher situation and then give up a dirtball goal, right? But what a way to bounce back. That, to me, could have just crumpled him in a minute. And he just... we know that about him. He's got a great ability to just kind of move on and get right back to it. Obviously he played great after that. We didn't give up a ton, which was key, but when we did, he made a couple of good saves. That's obviously what you need.

On Jaccob Slavin's goal: The goal is kind of honestly the same as there's. It shouldn't go in, we know that, but it's the play to get the goal. It's elite and it's just about how he reads the play. He realized that we had been in there for a while and that they were changing, so an easy time to take advantage maybe and step up on a player. All that stuff. Then to make the play. Can't really say much more about Jaccob.

On Andrei Svechnikov's game: We talked about this for a long time. Your best players have to be your best players. They have to be at this time of year. They have to be noticeable, but they also have to actually be on the scoresheet. He came out, got on the scoresheet, so that's huge, but he also had like five or six shots. He was around it and if you want to be successful, you have to get those contributions.

On the game: The start obviously was good. I mean, that's the key to the game. If you get ahead of it, it's a lot easier to play your game when you're ahead. I thought, really, we were good all game. They had their little push when they got that second goal there, I thought, but overall, I thought we were just solid. But the key is getting it out of the first with a 2-0 lead and then actually making it 3-0. It's hard to comeback from that in this league.

On the Slavin goal being a team goal:  It was kind of what I was alluding to. We had a great shift and we were creating an opportunity for them to make the mistake. Put stress on them and that's what happened. Obviously it was a great read and a great play by him, but it was kind of a team goal, for sure.

On the line shuffling heading into the game: We talked before the series that I wanted to get [Mark Jankowski] in there, but it was just that for the first time all year, we get to the playoffs and were fully healthy up front, which we hadn't had that. It was a tough decision to leave him off to start, but I felt like after the other night, it was a good time to throw him in and I thought he had a really good game. He was around it. And the other changes, just felt like we could use a little boost. Sometimes mixing things up a little bit gives the guys a little wake up call. I don't know if that had anything to do with it, but obviously we got the result.

On if he was surprised that there wasn't any penalty called on the Timo Meier collision with Andersen: So I guess I do have to answer it. I was. I mean, I guess the best way I would think it is that if that puck goes in, it's 100% goalie interference, right? So it's clearly contact and you're not really supposed to go into the crease. Even if we had a little bump, still, he's a big guy. He can stop. But it wasn't egregious. I get it. But I mean, we do feel like we try to protect the goalie quite a bit in this league with the goalie interference stuff that nobody knows what's going on with. That was a frustrating part. But we'll see how he does.

Frederik Andersen Exits Game 4 With Apparent Injury Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen has exited Game 4 against the New Jersey Devils in the second period after absorbing a big blow in his crease.

Jackson Blake

On his first taste of playoff hockey: It's everything that you expect. You watch it growing up every year. You bring up my dad and I would watch with him all the time even when you were tired. It's some of the most exciting hockey I'm sure I'll ever play and that I've played so far. It's definitely a dream come true and I'm having fun with it, for sure.

On if he's been getting advice from his father: Yeah. Obviously in the playoffs, it's ramped up more. The intensity is definitely higher, but I just have to play the same way that I did during the regular season and not try to change too much. Maybe just being a little more physical and stuff like that. Just not changing too much. That's what he told me. Just because you're playing in the playoffs doesn't mean you should change the way you play.

On the start: Yesterday, I don't think we did a really good job of wearing their D down. We made it, I don't want to say easy, on them, but we definitely didn't make it hard. Today, I think for the most part, we did that the whole entire game. Especially to go up 3-0. That's when we did it the best.

On seeing Andersen go down with injury: It's obviously not great when you see Freddie go down like that, but we know we have Kooch to back him up. He's, in my opinion, still one of the best goalies in the entire league. He's unbelievable. It's always good to have two good goalies, but it sucks to see Freddie go down.

On what it will take to close out the series on Tuesday: Not change anything we did today. I mean, there were definitely a couple skits in there that I think we could have done a little better and managed a little better, but I think if we just play a full 60, we'll be doing good like that start we had today.

On Andrei Svechnikov's hat trick: It's unbelievable. I mean, that guy... it's so well deserved. He's been bringing it every night in the playoffs and it's been fun to see and play with him. On the empty netter, I had to look for him. I'm happy he had that kind of night. It's good for his confidence and it'll be good to see what he keeps on doing.

On Jaccob Slavin: I mean, there's probably 100,000 words I can say about that guy. He's so good. It goes under the radar sometimes, I would say his offense. The plays he creates, not a lot of defensemen even in the NHL can do that. His stick, I would say, is one of the best, for sure, in the entire league and that play he made on his goal is incredible. The play to start was unbelievable and then to finish it off was... it was so cool to see him do that.

Pyotr Kochetkov

On his thoughts entering the game in relief for Andersen: It was a tough moment for us. When Freddie came to the bench and I went on the ice, I just tried to focus on the next shot.

On resetting after the first goal against: It was a tough moment for me. When he scored, I say, 'It's my goal.' I tried to just focus for next shot. Not much condition. Little time. I not know how many games I no play, maybe 10 days. Little bit need to feel puck and after I had a couple shots, the game comes to me. 

On if the Devils just throwing pucks on net early help him get adjusted: I have a couple glove shots and light shots when I see puck and it helped me.

On seeing Andersen leaving the game: I just think, 'I hope Freddie okay,' in that moment because I no have idea he coming to bench. When he came, it was very surprised for me and I just tried a little bit to warm up and go.

On how he stays prepared for a moment like this: This situation, I think of a couple seasons ago and last season. I know how it is, a little bit older now and I hope so I'm more ready and more understand how to be more ready for practice, ready for games if I no play. Maybe I have a chance like today. I just try to not change much every season. Try to do what I can in practice and await my chance.

On Andrei Svechnikov's hat trick: For me, I no can say bad about my Russian friend, right? Very happy for him. He's a good player and now he's most important for us. 

On if he feels the game is slowing down as he gets more experience every year in the NHL: I always think every season, 'Okay, I'm good and understand how to play in NHL this year more' and it's not working because in NHL, every game, every year, every month there's new details, new players, new seasons and a lot of new moments. To play every year in NHL, you have to be good at adapting. I try to just do what I can.

On if he was upset on the Meier goal against: I have goals every game. I know it's not too, too good goal, but it's just one shot. You no can one shot, two goals. I no can change [the goal against], but I just try to focus on the next shot.

On if he feels there's more pressure in playoff games: It's hard to say because I played one period. It's a little bit different. I can say more after a couple games if I have them. Now I try to no think about this situation. Try to just play my game.

Jordan Staal

On staying focused after the injury to Andersen: Didn't love the call obviously. Losing your starting goaltender is never a good feeling. We've been caught up in refs before in the past and it's gotten the better of us. It's a fast game, there's calls to be made, but you have to keep playing though. I thought the guys kept moving forward and stuck with the game plan. Found a way to grind one out.

On the collision: Honestly, I haven't seen the replay. Obviously live it's hard and I'm sure the refs thought Svechy had enough of a hook on him to throw him off enough to run over our goalie. I think Hallsy ended up in theirs right at the end of the game too. It's a quick game.

On the confidence in Pyotr Kochetkov: Kooch is a capable goalie. He's done really good for us and it was a big win for him and I'm sure for his confidence. But I think he played the most out of our goalies this year and he's been really good and got us moving forward and tonight was no different. We've always been comfortable with either goalie. Would love to have Freddie back as soon as he can, but Kooch did a good job stepping in.

On the penalty kill's success: They've had some good looks, but I think our goaltending has to be your best goaltender. I think we've just done a good job of pressuring at the right times, having good sticks and just being on the same page. Winning some draws early and getting them down the ice and making them work 200 feet to get any zone time. The less zone time, the better. It's been good for the PK, but we have a tall task ahead of us still.

On Jaccob Slavin: What can't you say about that guy. I mean, he can do it all. I don't think people realize that he has some great offensive skills too. I think he's relied so much everywhere on the ice, but he's got an unbelievable stick and vision and power and he just reads the game so well, defends so well and obviously can score goals. He's been our stud for a long time and a huge reason we are the team we are.

On the mindset for Game 5 with a chance to advance: It's a good feeling obviously. You want to be in our position and you want to be going home and taking it to them in front of our fans. It's always a fun building to play in and I know the fans are going to be ready. We're happy where we're at right now, but the last one is always the hardest. Always, no matter what. We know we have a  huge, huge game ahead of us and we've got to give it all we have to end it. It'll be a good game.

On the start: Obviously our start was huge. We've had those starts before and we don't get any goals, but we got a couple quicks one and that makes you feel a little better for the most part. We had the puck that whole first period. Being up a couple is that much better, a bigger treat. The start was huge. It ended the game pretty quickly. Didn't end the game obviously, but it gave us a huge boost and then our 5v5 play was pretty solid after that. It's hard to comeback in this league and the guys did a good job of closing it out.

On Andrei Svechnikov: I think that first goal was huge for him. He's obviously been up and down this year. One just sneaks in for him and you could tell. I know the feeling. It goes in and you just start feeling more confident and you start finding holes and the game slows down a little bit. Made a great play on the power play and he was just steady with the puck. Not forcing much and just playing Svechnikov hockey. We're going to need him to keep doing that and be the player we all know he can be.

On the Meier hit on Andersen (again): Obviously we don't want to see our starting goaltender go down. We'd like more of a call, but it's a quick game. They had an opportunity to look it over in slow motion, I haven't seen it yet, but I guess there was enough of a hook to run over our goalie, which we don't love. But it is what it is. In the past, we've gotten caught up in refs and being frustrated and losing our cool and I thought tonight, the guys did a much better job of just accepting tough calls. It's part of the game and you see it every night and all over the league. It's a fast game and you want to just keep moving forward.

Jaccob Slavin

On seeing Andrei Svechnikov's success tonight: It was awesome. Obviously he's a huge part of our team and he can control a game out there with his presence, his physicality, his just overall game, so when he's playing like that, it just makes us that much better of a team. Obviously it's huge for him and hopefully he just keeps doing that.

On his goal: We had a little bit of o-zone time there and I knew they were tired and they were just trying to get the puck out. So I just tried to have a good gap and ended up knocking it out of the air. I looked back and everyone on our team was changing too, so I just tried to throw it at the net and got lucky.

On the changes tonight from Game 3: I think we had lapses tonight as well, but when we're on, we're forechecking really hard, we're not allowing teams to breathe. So you saw that for a good chunk of the game tonight of us being on the forecheck and them having to chip the puck out and change and us coming right back on the attack. That's what was reversed from Game 3. When we're on, we're bringing the puck up well, we have a five-man forecheck going, we're all over them and Roddy talks about it being a stress game. We controlled that part of the game tonight.

On helping Pyotr Kochetkov find his rhythm: Honestly, it's just playing our game. It's trying to not give up much at all. Obviously they're going to have their push and he made saves when he had to. For him coming in like that is huge not only for us for him to play well, but also for him and his confidence moving forward. As a team, we just have to continue to do what we do and not give them opportunities that they don't need. We just need to keep going into their end.

On the penalty kill's success: I think sacrifice would be the word that comes to mind. So many guys are going out there and blocking shots when shots need to be blocked. So opportunities are being block and then goaltending needs to be unbelievable and your best penalty killer and the goalies have made saves when they've had to in net. We're not doing anything different. We know how we operate on the kill and the puck pressure that we do have and just honing in on the little things that they do and understand what they're trying to accomplish as well.

On his emotions seeing Kochetkov come in: When the game's going like that, you're just in the moment, playing the game. But you're always excited for him to get in there, but obviously when you lose a goaltender as well, it's never a good thing. Freddie's been a brick wall for us back there. But for Kooch to come in and play the way he did is awesome for him.

Jaccob Slavin Scores Goal Of The Postseason Everyone knows how good <a href="http://thn.com/carolina" target="_blank">Carolina Hurricanes</a> defenseman Jaccob Slavin is defensively at this point, but what he still might be underrated at is for just how good he is at everything, offense included.

Andrei Svechnikov

On his performance: Obviously, it was a hard season for me, but right now, in the playoff times, it's kind of my time. I love this time of the year, playing a physical game and just trying to do everything I can to help my team win the game. 

On the back-and-forth with Jacob Markstrom: I love those moments. I love every second of that. Just love those little dirty moments and playing physical.

On Timo Meier's collision with Andersen: I have to check the video again because I don't really remember that I pushed him or hooked him or whatever happened there. Never really anything like that. I just have to see the video, but obviously it's kind of bad for us that we lost Freddie, but we knew we were winning the game. It was 3-1 and we knew we didn't need any fights or any more penalties. We just tried to stay focused and play our game.

On the power play's success: To be honest, it's been the same. We just try to talk about how we're going to rotate a little bit and move the puck a little bit faster, but it's been the same. Just the puck is going for us and hopefully that's going to continue for us.

On Pyotr Kochetkov stepping up in relief: It's very, very hard to go in like that. He didn't play for the last two weeks. I actually had the goosebumps for him and was kind of nervous for him, but I knew he was going to do well and just catch a couple of first shots and then get the confidence, which he did. Played great and we're going to see him play really good for us.

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