Frederik Andersen and Rod Brind'Amour are heading to Vegas with Carolina, but all signs point to Andersen staying on the outside again.
That's the hard read from Saturday's practice, where Andersen was on the ice early and worked before the full group settled in.
The bigger tell came in the crease rotation. Pyotr Kochetkov moved into the backup net first, while Brandon Bussi handled the starter's net by himself.
Brind'Amour didn't say it outright, but he didn't need to.
Practice order usually says plenty this time of year, especially before a flight for a potential Cup-clinching game.
That leaves Andersen staring at a rough turn after carrying real weight earlier in this playoff run.
He appeared in 16 playoff games after making 35 starts in the regular season.
Carolina didn't get here by accident either.
The Hurricanes finished the season 53-22-7 with a 56 goal differential, so lineup calls this late come with real pressure attached.
The crease picture has changed fast with Frederik Andersen
What stands out is how quickly Andersen's place has shifted. A goalie who helped steady Carolina through three rounds now looks like the third option on the road.
That's a brutal spot for any veteran, especially with the Stanley Cup Final on the line and the club one win away from ending it.
The practice setup also suggests Carolina's staff wants a clear pecking order before puck drop. No mixed signals, no game-day drama, no uncertainty around the bench.
And for Andersen, that may be the hardest part. He's healthy, still around the group, still traveling, but the crease isn't opening for him right now.
Over his NHL playoff career, Andersen has appeared in 101 postseason games. That experience usually buys trust, but late June is about the coach's read in the moment.
So this trip to Vegas feels less like a reset and more like confirmation. Carolina are moving ahead with another plan in net unless something changes at the last second.
For Andersen, that's the bad sign. Not just that he may not start, but that he may not even be next in line anymore.
Should Rod Brind'Amour keep Frederik Andersen as Carolina's third goalie for Game 6?
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