Despite losing three major pieces on offense, the Hurricanes are in the 2023 Eastern Conference Final, taking on the Panthers with a ticket to the Stanley Cup Final on the line.
Carolina is getting one of those reinforcements back.
Hurricanes winger Teuvo Teravainen is close to re-joining the lineup. He was injured during the first-round series against the Islanders and has not played since April 19, missing the entirety of the second-round matchup against the Devils.
Teravainen admitted that he thought he would be out for the rest of the postseason, but with Carolina's season still very much alive, the Finnish forward could be back soon for the Canes.
"It's kind of crazy; I thought for sure I was done (for the playoffs)," Teravainen said ahead of the series against the Panthers. "But the doctors made a really good job and it looks like I'm getting back pretty soon. ... The boys have done a really good job playing really good hockey. It's tough to watch games from the outside. You always want to be helping, but they've done a really good job."
Teravainen was skating on the top forward line alongside Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis before the injury. Despite the absences of Teravainen, Max Pacioretty and Andrei Svechnikov at forward, Carolina is averaging over 3.50 goals per game during the 2023 playoffs.
NHL PLAYOFFS: Hurricanes vs. Panthers Eastern Conference Final preview
The Sporting has the latest news on Teravainen's injury and his status for the Eastern Conference Final.
Is Teuvo Teravainen playing in Game 1 vs. Panthers?
Carolina head coach Rod Brind'Amour said on Thursday that Teravainen will play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final vs. the Panthers.
CAR coach Rod Brind'Amour says Teuvo Teravainen will play tonight
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 18, 2023
On Wednesday, the Canes coach said that he was hopeful the winger would play, but that a decision wouldn't come until after morning skate on Thursday. After the practice on Thursday, Teravainen is set to make his return to the lineup.
"He should be ready to go," Brind'Amour said ahead of Game 1. "He gave me a thumbs-up yesterday, and I think he was fine this morning. So we've got to get him in."
What is Teuvo Teravainen's injury?
Teravainen suffered a broken hand during Game 2 of the Hurricanes' first-round series against the Islanders.
The Carolina winger was ruled out for the remainder of the series and he did not play in any of the games against the Devils in the second round.
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Brind'Amour expressed his displeasure about the injury, which was a result of a slash from New York center Jean-Gabriel Pageau.
"He's out. He got slashed, he broke his hand," Brind'Amour said after Game 2. "With the puck, takes a shot, (Pageau) absolutely tomahawk chops him. Go take a look at the video. He's out for the series. He has to have surgery tomorrow. There you go. So, I'm a little [ticked], to be honest with you."
He began skating with the team a few days ago, with Monday's practice the first time he shed the non-contact jersey and wore a regular uniform.
