Is Antti Raanta playing tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs? Latest injury update on goaltender ahead of matchup (March 25th, 2023)

The Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 PM ET, but Carolina’s goaltender Antti Raanta may not take the ice. It remains uncertain if Raanta will be playing in tonight's game due to his current injury concerns, but it feels unlikely.

Raanta has been out of action for almost three weeks after sustaining a lower-body injury during the game against the Montreal Canadiens on March 7. However, he has been making steady progress towards a return to the game, as reported by Walt Ruff of the Hurricanes' official site.

According to Ruff, Raanta has been taking shots during practice and is getting closer to a return. He will likely need full practice before he is ready to step onto the ice for a game, but his progress is certainly encouraging.

It's worth noting that Raanta has been a key player for the Hurricanes this season. He has an impressive 16-2-3 record, a 2.32 goals-against average (GAA), and a .907 save percentage. His return to the team would be a significant boost for the Hurricanes, especially given their recent struggles in the net.

Carolina head coach Rod Brind'Amour has yet to confirm whether or not Raanta will be in the starting lineup, and the decision will likely depend on his progress in practice leading up to the game.

If Raanta is unable to play tonight, the Hurricanes will have to rely on their backup goaltender, James Reimer. However, Reimer has performed well this season with a 14-5-1 record, a 2.80 GAA, and a .906 save percentage.

Antti Raanta's NHL career and achievements

Ottawa Senators v Carolina Hurricanes

Antti Raanta is a Finnish goaltender who has played in the National Hockey League for several teams. These include the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Arizona Coyotes, and currently the Carolina Hurricanes.

Antti Raanta's NHL career began in the 2013-14 season when he signed with the Chicago Blackhawks as an undrafted free agent. He started the season with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League but was called up to the Blackhawks in November 2013. Raanta was a key contributor to the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup championship win in 2015.

After his time with the Blackhawks, Antti Raanta was traded to the New York Rangers in June 2015. He served as the backup to Henrik Lundqvist for two seasons, playing in 47 games and posting a 27-14-4 record, a 2.26 GAA, and a .921 save percentage.

In June 2017, Antti Raanta was traded to the Arizona Coyotes. His performance earned him a nomination for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender.

In October 2020, Antti Raanta signed with the Carolina Hurricanes, where he has continued to excel as a goaltender. In the 2020-21 season, he played in 12 games and posted a 5-4-2 record, a 2.56 GAA, and a .905 save percentage. So far this season, Raanta has played in 21 games and has an impressive 16-2-3 record, a 2.32 GAA, and a .907 save percentage.