Hurricanes’ Brind’Amour ‘hopeful’ Kotkaniemi can return soon from injury against Caps
Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour had no update Tuesday on the injury that forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi sustained Monday in the 6-1 victory against Washington.
Kotkaniemi was injured in the final moments of the third period. Caps forward Lars Eller put a shoulder-to-shoulder hit on Kotkaniemi with about five seconds left in regulation that knocked Kotkaniemi to the ice near the boards in an awkward fall.
Asked about Kotkaniemi’s injury status, Brind’Amour said: “I can’t give you anything. He’s getting checked out tomorrow. So no idea. I’m hopeful it’s not going to be too long but we’ll know after tomorrow.”
The Canes ended a three-game road trip Tuesday at Tampa Bay. The team will return to Raleigh after the game and is not scheduled to have a practice Wednesday.
The Kotkaniemi injury marred the Canes’ Metro Division victory over the Caps. Play was stopped with 1.8 seconds remaining and Kotkaniemi was helped off the ice, putting little weight on his left leg. Eller was given a minor penalty for charging.
After the game, Brind’Amour said, “The game’s over. I don’t like it. I don’t know the extent but it’s not good.”
Canes winger Martin Necas, who had two goals and an assist in the win, was more blunt, calling Eller’s hit “so stupid” and “ridiculous.”
Kotkaniemi, who recently signed an eight-year contract extension with the Hurricanes, assisted on the game’s first goal by Derek Stepan on Monday and has assists in each of the past three games.
With Kotkaniemi sidelined, the Canes likely will move Stepan back to center and have Steven Lorentz draw back into the lineup for the Tampa Bay game.
This story was originally published March 29, 2022 at 5:30 PM.
