Jesper Fast out for season, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour says before Game 3
Jesper Fast will be out for the rest of the season, no matter how far the Carolina Hurricanes advance in the playoffs, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said before Game 3 against the New York Islanders on Thursday.
In his pregame interview with Tripp Tracy on Bally Sports South, Brind’Amour said that the neck injury Fast re-injured in the final regular season game at the Columbus Blue Jackets would not allow him to return.
“Unfortunately you know this time of year, it’s not what you want to hear,” Brind’Amour said. “You need your guys in there but they won’t be available. (Fast), I think, really for the whole playoffs, no matter how far we go. So that one’s really tough. Tough for him because you put in all that work.”
Fast went crashing back-first into the boards after being cross-checked from behind by Erik Gudbrandson and did not return to that 6-3 loss in Columbus. He earlier missed six games in March and April with a neck strain.
Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said in a text message that Fast would be re-evaluated in four weeks but the team was not optimistic he would be able to return.
“He got checked out again, and whatever the findings were, it doesn’t look like he’s going to be back,” Brind’Amour said after the game. “Not good news for us or him.”
The Hurricanes remain hopeful defenseman Brett Pesce, who suffered a non-contact injury in Game 2, will be able to return at some point after this series. Tony DeAngelo took his spot next to Brady Skjei for Game 3.
“We don’t really know the extent, but we’re hopeful that maybe at some point he can get back,” Brind’Amour said.
Fast, who scored six goals and recorded 19 points in 73 regular-season games, was a key cog on the Hurricanes’ shutdown line with captain Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook. Seth Jarvis and Andrei Svechnikov have both filled that role during the playoffs, with Jarvis playing there Thursday night.
This story was originally published April 25, 2024 at 7:32 PM.
