The Hurricanes are likely going to be without Jesper Fast for Game 1 against the New York Islanders due to an upper-body injury.
Carolina Hurricanes Jesper Fast doesn't get enough credit for what he brings to a hockey team. He's one of those head-down, grinding forwards, like Casey Cizikas, who does the little things to help his team win.
Unfortunately for Carolina, he will likely miss Saturday evening's Game 1 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the New York Islanders.
Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour rested a handful of players in the final game of the regular season against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
But, he couldn't rest all of his starters, and what no one wants to happen did happen to Fast.
Here's what happened according to The Hockey News' colleague, Hurricanes beat reporter Ryan Henkel:
"As he tried to race towards the Columbus Blue Jackets' net, Columbus defenseman Erik Gudbranson cross-checked Fast in the lower back, causing the Swedish forward to lose his balance and fall to the ice, where his momentum caused him to crash into the end boards."
Fast was able to get up under his own power but went down the tunnel and did not return.
"That's the part that just makes you sick, to be honest with you," Brind'Amour said postgame. "You're just trying to get through the game without having that. I'm not sure where it's going to go, but that's the bad thing about what happened tonight."
When the Hurricanes practiced on Thursday, Fast wasn't there.
The Hurricanes have depth options if Fast isn't able to go, but losing an everyday player right before the playoffs in a meaningless game isn't ideal.
The Islanders are dealing with that right now after Jean-Gabriel Pageau left Wednesday's game with an undisclosed injury.
Fast had two goals in the six-game series against the Islanders in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
New York will practice on Friday morning, and we will provide the necessary updates before the team flies to Carolina.