Why Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke is trying to devastate his younger self
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Greg Wyshynski, ESPN
BOSTON — Andrew Peeke might owe his NHL career to Stanley C. Panther.
Peeke was 4 years old when his parents took him to a skating event hosted by the Florida Panthers mascot. From there, the Parkland, Florida, native fell in love with hockey and, in turn, fell in love with the Florida Panthers.
That love was fostered by his father, Cliff Peeke, a Michigan native who was a season-ticket holder for the Panthers. Andrew practically grew up going to their arena in Sunrise, watching exciting if not always successful hockey.
“As a fan, there wasn’t a lot of playoff games or playoff atmospheres, so obviously being a fan at the time was tough,” Peeke said.
A lot has changed since then. Florida’s arena is packed for home games. The Panthers are Stanley Cup contenders. And Andrew Peeke is now rooting against them.
He has to, because they’re trying to end his season.
Peeke is defenseman for the Boston Bruins, who are facing the Panthers in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. He spent most of his life hoping that one of the league’s least successful franchises could finally find success. Now, he’s trying to help his team prevent it.
“Being able to see that building full and the passion [Panthers fans] have … right now, that’s not what I care about,” he said. “Right now, I’m trying to knock them out in the next couple of games. Being able to basically say ‘screw you guys.'”
Peeke, 26, was acquired by Boston from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a trade on March 8. It’s his fifth season in the NHL, one limited to 38 regular-season games due to injury. He has played his first three career postseason games with the Bruins, including Game 3 against his childhood team, the Panthers.
“It’s pretty cool. If you’re going to tell young me that one day I’ve been playing against this team, I would tell you ‘no way,'” he said. “But being in this spot, obviously playing for the Bruins and having that honor, is pretty special. That it’s against your hometown team makes it even better.”
WHEN NHL PLAYERS talk about facing the team they cheered for as a young fan, they’re usually speaking of someone who used to wear Maple Leafs pajamas. It’s not typically someone who cheered for Ed “JovoCop” Jovanovski, Peeke’s favorite Florida Panther, in an arena where fans throw rubber rats on the ice.
(For the record, Peeke said he has never thrown one. Or at least he believes he hasn’t.)
Peeke is one of nearly a dozen current NHL players with roots in Florida, some of whom also grew up Panthers fans. Detroit Red Wings defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere idolized Pavel Bure growing up. Ottawa Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun played in the Florida Jr. Panthers program. So did Colorado Avalanche forward Brandon Duhaime, a Coral Springs native who grew up a die-hard Panthers fan.
Like many Florida-born players with designs on a pro hockey career, Peeke left the state at 15 years old to hone his skills and get the attention of the hockey world. He credits his parents for making the financial sacrifice to send him to South Kent Prep School in Connecticut. From there, he played for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL before being drafted by the Blue Jackets No. 34 in 2016. He played three seasons for the University of Notre Dame and was the team’s captain in 2018-2019. He made his NHL debut the following season.
Could he have still forged that path had he remained in Florida?
“It’s tough to say. I don’t have the crystal ball, but every year you stay in Florida past a certain age, it’s more and more unlikely,” he said. “If you’re a scout, you’re probably not going down there as much as coming to see players in Boston.”
That might eventually change. According to USA Hockey, participation numbers in Florida continue to trend up: Over the past five years, the number of players ages 15 and 16 in Florida increased by 28%, and the number of 9- and 10-year-old players has increased by 32%
The Panthers’ recent success will only help that growth. After making the playoffs twice in 18 seasons, Florida has appeared in the postseason for five straight seasons, losing in the Stanley Cup Final last season to the Vegas Golden Knights.
“Obviously being a Florida guy, I want the game to grow, so them being in the playoffs is a great thing for Florida hockey,” Peeke said.
Unfortunately, what’s good for Florida isn’t good for Andrew Peeke this postseason.
“I have a ton of Florida fan friends, so they’re torn. But that’s their problem,” he said. “I’ve got to focus on wearing the ‘B’ and playing for the guys.”
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Greg Wyshynski
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Carolina Hurricanes are benching starter Frederik Andersen for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Backup Pyotr Kochetkov, who replaced Andersen for the third period of their 5-0 loss to the Florida Panthers in Thursday’s Game 2, will get the start. Florida holds a 2-0 series lead over Carolina with Game 3 scheduled for Saturday night in Sunrise.
“Just change the vibe a little bit. I don’t blame Freddie for any of the goals that went in. Obviously, save percentage isn’t great, if you look at that. We do need some saves,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said.
Before Game 1 against Florida, Andersen had allowed only 12 goals in nine playoff games for a .937 save percentage and a 1.36 goals-against average. But in two games against Florida, Andersen has given up nine goals on 36 shots, a .750 save percentage and a 5.54 GAA.
Defenseman Jaccob Slavin had nothing but praise for Andersen on the morning of Game 3, minutes before Brind’Amour announced the goalie change.
“He’s a stone wall back there. He has been all year, He’s a calm presence, and he’s not going to go out outside of his game to try to do anything crazy. So that gives a huge confidence,” Slavin said.
Kochetkov gave up one goal on five shots faced in Game 2. He saw action in the Hurricanes’ first-round win over the New Jersey Devils after Andersen was injured in a collision with Devils forward Timo Meier, giving up five goals on 50 shots in two Carolina victories.
Overall, Kochetkov has appeared in nine career playoff games with a save percentage of .871 and a 3.52 GAA.
Kochetkov saw the majority of the starts in the regular season for the Hurricanes, going 27-16-3 in 47 starts with a .898 save percentage and a 2.60 GAA.
The change comes as the Hurricanes desperately try to get back into a series in which the Panthers have outscored them 10-2. But there are other lineup considerations for Carolina. Brind’Amour said defensemen Jalen Chatfield and Sean Walker are both game-time decisions. Chatfield has yet to appear in the conference finals with an undisclosed injury. Walker was shaken up in Game 2 on a hit from Florida forward A.J. Greer.
Center Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who was a healthy scratch in Game 2, is expected back in the Hurricanes’ lineup.
Puck drop for Game 3 of the East finals is 8 p.m. ET.
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Greg Wyshynski
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart will miss Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals with a lower body injury.
The Panthers lead the Carolina Hurricanes 2-0, with the action shifting to Sunrise on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.
Reinhart was Florida’s leading scorer in the regular season with 81 points in 79 games, including a team-high 39 goals. He is a finalist for the Selke Trophy, awarded to the best defensive forward in the NHL. Reinhart scored 57 goals for the Panthers in 2023-24 to earn an eight-year, $69 million contract extension.
He left the Panthers’ 5-0 win in Game 2 on Thursday after a first-period hit by Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho as Reinhart carried the puck into the offensive zone. Aho appeared to make contact with Reinhart’s left knee. Reinhart’s last shift ended with 2:08 left in the first period.
Reinhart underwent testing Friday and was ruled out by coach Paul Maurice on Saturday. Maurice listed him as day-to-day after the Panthers’ morning skate.
The 29-year-old has 11 points in 14 playoff games, skating on the team’s top line with captain Aleksander Barkov and Evan Rodrigues. Reinhart was second on the Panthers with 10 goals during their Stanley Cup championship run in 2024.
Maurice said Reinhart is “a significant player” out of the lineup, one who contributes to the power play and penalty kill.
Forward Jesper Boqvist will draw into Reinhart’s spot alongside Barkov. The 26-year-old has one goal and one assist in nine playoff games this season but has averaged just 8:52 in ice time.
Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad said the Panthers have plenty of experience picking up the slack for players who are out of their lineup. Florida had only 12 players who played at least 76 games in the regular season.
“Not necessarily losing Rhino, but up and down the line of losing guys. It’s never easy, but it’s a team effort and has always been there for us. Not replace him, because he’s irreplaceable, but do our best,” Ekblad said.
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