Hurricanes, Panthers search for energy prior to Game 2 of East Final

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Let's start with one change the Carolina Hurricanes won't be making for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers at PNC Arena on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; TNT, CBC, SN, TVAS).

Though Brent Burns played 54:33 in Carolina's 3-2 quadruple-overtime loss in Game 1 of the best-of-7 series Thursday, coach Rod Brind'Amour is not considering resting the 38-year-old defenseman in Game 2.

"I can tell you right now if I even thought that, he'd punch me in the face," Brind'Amour said Friday. "And I'd be the dumbest coach ever."

Brind'Amour, who won the Jack Adams Award, voted as the NHL's coach of the year in 2020-21, isn't dumb and doesn't want to be punched in the face. But he acknowledged resting Frederik Andersen and starting Antti Raanta in goal is something the Hurricanes are contemplating for Game 2.

RELATED: [Complete Hurricanes vs. Panthers series coverage]

A goalie switch would not be predicated on Andersen's play after he matched Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky nearly save for save, making a Carolina/Hartford Whalers Stanley Cup Playoff record 57, before forward Matthew Tkachuk scored with 13 seconds left in the fourth overtime. It would be based on the physical toll playing 139 minutes and 47 seconds -- the sixth-longest game in NHL history -- had on Andersen's 33-year-old body.

"Obviously, that's a lot of wear and tear on everybody, but especially goalies," Brind'Amour said. "So, that might be something we do (where) I would talk to him today later or maybe tomorrow. We'll definitely give him a day to just try to recover."

Panthers coach Paul Maurice made it clear resting Bobrovsky on Saturday isn't on the table, saying, "I'm not taking him out of the net." But the Hurricanes' decision with Andersen is different because he and Raanta rotated much of this season and because of Andersen's health history. A knee injury that kept him out of the playoffs last season and minor tweak (and illness) prevented him from dressing as Raanta's backup for Games 2-4 of the first round against the New York Islanders this postseason.

Raanta started Carolina's first five playoff games before Andersen took over in Game 6 against New York. Andersen has started seven straight games since then, his longest string of the season, and is 5-1 with a 1.65 goals-against average and .936 save percentage.

Raanta is 3-2 with a 2.59 GAA and .906 save percentage in the playoffs. But he's an intriguing option for Game 2 because of his 11-0-1 record with a 2.06 GAA, .916 save percentage and three shutouts at home during the regular season. Raanta is also 8-1 with a 1.78 GAA, .933 save percentage and one shutout in 13 home playoff games (11 starts) in his NHL career.

That gives the Hurricanes something to think about.

"You have to," Brind'Amour said. "[Andersen] played the whole game. So, that's a consideration."

Otherwise, the focus for each team Friday was on getting rest and putting Game 1 behind them to focus on Game 2. That was easier for the Panthers because they prevailed in the Game 1 marathon, but a challenge physically and mentally for each team.

Neither practiced Friday.

"Last night was a little bit later than most games this playoff so far, so you get to bed a little later, sleep a little less, but today's the same routine," Florida forward Eric Staal said. "It's just about recovering and remembering the good and trying to correct some of the stuff that we didn't do as well. So we look forward to Game 2. A good start for us, but it's going to be a huge challenge as we continue on."

Carolina defenseman Brady Skjei, who played 48:19 in Game 1, said he got to bed around 3 a.m. and woke up at 10:30. That's not his usual off-day routine, but part of dealing with the uncertainty of the playoffs.

The difference for the Hurricanes is they need to find the energy to rebound quickly to avoid falling in a 0-2 hole before the series shifts to Florida for Games 3 and 4.

"Definitely stings. Long game," Skjei said. "Both teams went through it, though, so both teams are feeling that today. All you have to think about is just one game. You've got to move past this. … Just got to try to forget about this and learn a few things from video and then move onto tomorrow night."

For two teams whose games are predicated on playing with speed and pressuring on the forecheck, having the legs to play at the required pace might be difficult after expending so much in Game 1. But in that way, the playing field will be even.

"I think everyone's in the same boat there," Hurricanes forward Stefan Noesen said. "It's the sixth longest game (in League history) and it was a battle and they came out (on top), so we're going to be playing with a little bit more desperation. That's kind of what has to happen."