Carolina Hurricanes forward William Carrier returned to the team's lineup Saturday afternoon following a three-month absence and looked like he hadn't missed a beat.
Carrier, 30, last played a game for the Hurricanes on Jan. 4, but a lower-body issue proceeded to keep him out of the lineup until he eventually had to have surgery.
The team never really had a timeline for the physical winger's return and things were up in the air for a while if he'd even be able to return this season.
"It was in the mix," Carrier said when asked if he was ever worried he wouldn't be able to return this year. "You never know with these. Out so long and you just never know. You're two months in and you're like, 'It's not really better.' It's a long process, you just have to trust it."
Although Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour wanted to ease him back in the lineup, Carrier knew that he had to prove to himself he was truly ready to be back.
So he did what he does best: set a tone by throwing a big hit — the game's first — on Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider less than two minutes into the game.
"Had to see if it was going to hold," Carrier joked with the media after the team's 7-3 win. "You're never sure until you get out there as you can't really test it out in practice. Can't hit your own guy. So it was nice to get out there and get a few in."
Even beyond that one hit though, Carrier was effective.
In 10:48 of ice time, Carrier was flying down the ice, had a few early chances, got a primary assist on yet another Mark Jankowski goal and three more hits as well.
"A lot of hits," Jarvis said on Carrier's return. "I think he has recaptured his team lead again. He had it for three months, lost it for like two days, and I think got it back. He's great, a physical force and he makes plays too."
"For being out as long as he has, he was pretty impactful," Brind'Amour said.
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