Canes Brind’Amour says he highly doubts Svechnikov can return in Bruins series
The injury looked awful and the fear initially was that Andrei Svechnikov’s postseason might have ended.
That may not be the case. While Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said Sunday he would “highly doubt” the forward would return during the Boston Bruins playoff series, he did not specifically rule Svechnikov out of the playoffs should the Canes advance to the conference finals or Stanley Cup finals.
Brind’Amour said Svechnikov, who suffered a leg injury late in the Game 3 loss on Saturday, was still undergoing medical evaluation Sunday and was to have an MRI. Under the NHL Return to Play protocols, teams are not allowed to give out specific injury information.
Svechnikov was hurt while trying to get position in front of the Boston net. Defenseman Zdeno Chara pushed him backward while their legs also were tangled up, Svechnikov spinning and putting full weight on his right leg as he fell.
“It’s just unfortunate,” Brind’Amour said. “I think the ice conditions at that time of the game had a lot to do with it. It’s really slushy and your skates dig in a little more at that point.
“It’s just unfortunate. Toes digging in and two guys battling in front. Again, I hate to see that happen to anybody but especially one of your players and a key guy at that. Again, that’s just part of the game.”
Svechnikov, then a rookie, suffered a concussion in Game 3 of the Washington Capitals playoff series a year ago after a fight with the Caps’ Alex Ovechkin. The Canes responded by raising their play, winning that game at PNC Arena and the first-round series in seven games as Svechnikov was unable to return.
Could that be the case this year, in these most unusual Stanley Cup playoffs in the Toronto bubble?
“It has to be,” center Sebastian Aho said Sunday. “Svech is a great player and it’s not just the one guy who takes his spot. All of us have to step up and fill his shoes.”
The Bruins took a 3-1 win in Game 3 and an intriguing story line appeared to be goalie Jaroslav Halak taking over in the Boston net after Tuukka Rask’s surprising decision to opt out of the Return to Play to be with his family.
But Svechnikov’s injury cast a pall over the Canes. The power forward will be missed for his hard-driving play but also his personality and attitude, in the room, around his teammates and on the ice.
Ryan Dzingel figures to be Brind’Amour’s choice to step back into the lineup and replace Svechnikov. The Canes signed Dzingel as a free agent last year looking to use his speed and scoring ability to add to the offense, only to have Dzingel have a sub-par season.
The Canes have played without defenseman Joel Edmundson the past two games after he was injured in Game 1. Now, Svechnikov is out.
The Bruins have been missing forward David Pastrnak, injured at the end of Game 1, and that has caused some adjustments to their lineup and line combinations. Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said Pastrnak skated Sunday but was “50-50 at best” to play Game 4.
“Every team has injuries,” Brind’Amour said. “That’s why you have depth and other guys have to step up. Obviously you’re not going to replace that player, for sure, with the talent and everything, but there’s no other alternative.
“It’s a team game and we know we need everybody to win. Everybody’s got to produce, whoever is in the lineup.”
Brind’Amour said Sunday it was a “huge possibility” that goalie James Reimer would get his second start in the series. Reimer was the winner in Game 2 and is 2-0 in the postseason after beating the New York Rangers in the qualifying series.
