Carolina Hurricanes winger Teuvo Teravainen suffered a broken hand after a slash from New York Islanders forward J.G. Pageau during their recent playoff matchup. Despite the obvious penalty, no penalty was called on the play, leading to a surgery requirement for Teravainen and sparking controversy around the incident.
The Hurricanes’ head coach, Rod Brind’Amour, expressed his frustration with the situation, stating, “I’m a little pissed, to be honest with you.” Brind’Amour’s anger is understandable, as the slash appeared to be a cheap shot from Pageau and went unpunished by officials.
Although the Hurricanes managed to secure a 4-3 overtime victory in the game, losing Teravainen for the remainder of the series is a significant blow to their roster. The 28-year-old winger had not registered any points in two playoff games this season, but he boasted a +2 rating and two shots on goal. Teravainen’s potential impact cannot be underestimated, as he accumulated 11 points in 14 playoff games last year.
During the regular season, Teravainen contributed 12 goals and 25 assists for a total of 37 points in 68 games played. His absence exacerbates the Hurricanes’ forward injury woes, with Pacioretty and Svechnikov also sidelined due to injuries.
As the playoff series between the Hurricanes and Islanders continues, the impact of Teravainen’s injury will be closely monitored. With key players missing from their lineup, the Hurricanes will need to rely on their depth to get the job done on the offensive front.
