Hurricanes likely to be without key defenseman for remainder of series against Islanders

According to Luke DeCook of The News & Observer, the Carolina Hurricanes will be without one of their better defensemen for the rest of their first-round series against the New York Islanders. DeCook reports that Brett Pesce suffered a non-contact injury in Game 2 of the series and will likely miss the rest of the first round as he’s considered week-to-week.

Since Pesce is only considered week-to-week and could jump back into the lineup as soon as the second round if Carolina can advance, it is more than likely that Pesce did not endure any sort of tear. As one of the more steady defensemen on the roster, it is still a tough blow to the Hurricanes as they look to take a commanding lead in the series Thursday night.

Playing in all 82 games last season for Carolina as well as 15 games in last year’s playoffs, Pesce suffered a lower-body injury earlier in the season that kept him out of the lineup for nearly a month. Still managing to suit up in 70 games this season, Pesce scored three goals and 13 points and was only on the ice for 65 goals against in 1,420 minutes of action.

Fortunately for the Hurricanes, they have built one of the best defensive cores in the league over the last several years, which should give them ample opportunity to withstand the Islanders in the first round. Given that Pesce was playing on the second-paring with Brady Skjei to start the playoffs, the team will have the chance to plug in Scott Morrow, Jalen Chatfield, Dylan Coghlan or Tony DeAngelo to fill the void.