The Carolina Hurricanes have lost defenseman Brett Pesce to a lower-body injury suffered in the second period of Game 2 of the Canes' first-round series against the New York Islanders.
It appears that the veteran blueliner suffered a non-contact injury after trying to stop and play a puck in the defensive zone.
The team reported that Pesce would not return to the game.
Pesce, who is second on the team in blocked shots and an important penalty killer and all-around defensive specialist, is a key piece to the Hurricanes' system and losing him would definitely hurt.
After the game, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour wasn't too optimistic about the injury.
"That's not looking good," Brind'Amour said. "He's going to go get looked at tomorrow. So that's the big negative of tonight, for sure."
The Canes will not practice tomorrow but Brind'Amour will be available to the media so perhaps by then an update will be available.