Hurricanes hopeful Ehlers, Nikishin will return in Round 2

RALEIGH, NC — Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour is hopeful that winger Nikolaj Ehlers and defenseman (*2*) will be prepared for Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs with further break day to get well from accidents.

The Eastern Conference’s high seed closed out a first-round sweep of Ottawa on Saturday, though Ehlers was a late scratch with a lower-body harm. Nikishin was knocked out from the second interval with a concussion on a jarring hit from Tyler Klevenleaving Nikishin inclined on the ice and struggling to get again to his ft.

The Hurricanes had been the primary staff to advance to Round 2 and subsequent face the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh winner. The Flyers received the primary three video games, however the Penguins have prolonged the collection to Wednesday’s Game 6.

Neither Ehlers nor Nikishin skated with the staff returning to follow Tuesday, though there’s clearly no have to rush them again. Afterward, Brind’Amour stated “everything’s trending in the right direction” on Nikishin.

veteran ahead William Carrier took Ehlers’ spot on the third line in Game 4, whereas Nicolas Deslauriers obtained his first playoff motion since 2022 in taking Carrier’s spot in a testy Game 4 with a number of scrums.

Ace for the blueliners, veteran Mike Reilly performed 42 regular-season video games to assist the Hurricanes play by way of the absence of high defenseman Jacob Slavin for a lot of the schedule, and is the staff’s seventh defenseman.

Additionally, Carolina referred to as up defenseman prospect Charles-Alexis Legault — a 22-year-old fifth-round draft decide from the 2023 draft — from the American Hockey League to work with the staff.