The big news coming out of Game Four was the Capitals losing star forward TJ Oshie to a potential long-term injury after Oshie was boarded by Warren Foegele. But the Carolina Hurricanes, who have already lost several top forwards, lost another one Thursday at PNC Arena.
In the first period of Game Four, Jordan Martinook slammed awkwardly into the end boards after trying to bodycheck Dmitry Orlov, injuring what appeared to be his right leg. Martinook would return for one shift, but could not skate at full power and left the game.
Friday morning, the Hurricanes recalled talented forward Aleksi Saarela from the Charlotte Checkers. In a corresponding move, rookie defenseman Jake Bean was sent down.
The #Canes have recalled Aleksi Saarela from @CheckersHockey
More Info » https://t.co/Dd8ntuWzc2 pic.twitter.com/K9kXDU2u2M
— Carolina Hurricanes (@NHLCanes) April 19, 2019
Saarela leads the Checkers in goals with 30, and set career highs in goals, assists (24), and points (54) this season.
The Hurricanes are already without Andrei Svechnikov, who was injured in Game Three after being knocked out by Alex Ovechkin, and Micheal Ferland, who hurt himself trying to check Tom Wilson.
Hurricanes’ head coach Rod Brind’Amour met with reporters Friday morning and said he does not expect Svechnikov to play Saturday during Game Five.
On Andrei Svechnikov playing Saturday in D.C., #Canes head coach Rod Brind'Amour says, "I doubt it."
— Michael Smith (@MSmithCanes) April 19, 2019
“That was a pretty hairy game,” Brind’Amour said to Michael Smith. “We got nicked up again. I can’t say enough about our group. They just battle. Next guy up. Whoever is ready. We’re giving everything we can.”
Rod Brind'Amour: "We've got a little rivalry going here, and that's good."
— Michael Smith (@MSmithCanes) April 19, 2019
More from the Canes:
RALEIGH, NC – Don Waddell, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has recalled forward Aleksi Saarela from the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL) on an emergency basis and reassigned defenseman Jake Bean to Charlotte.
Saarela, 22, posted 54 points (30g, 24a) in 69 AHL games with the Checkers this season, leading the team in goals and setting career highs in goals, assists and points. The 5’10”, 200-pound forward tied for the AHL league lead in game-winning goals (9) and finished tied for second in the league in overtime goals (3). Saarela is looking to become the first player in franchise history to make his NHL playoff debut before making his NHL regular season debut. The Helsinki, Finland, native has registered 107 points (61g, 46a) in 147 career AHL games with Charlotte. Saarela was drafted by the Rangers in the third round, 89th overall, of the 2015 NHL Draft. He was acquired by Carolina from New York along with a second-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft (Luke Martin) in exchange for Eric Staal and a second-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft (Artur Kayumov) on Feb. 28, 2016.
Bean, 20, was recalled on April 7 and served as a healthy extra during the Hurricanes’ last four games. He registered 44 points (13g, 31a) in 70 AHL games with the Checkers during the regular season, finishing second among rookie AHL defensemen in goals and points and third in assists. The 6’1″, 181-pound defenseman made his NHL debut on Nov. 27 at Montreal and played two NHL games with Carolina this season. The Calgary, Alta., native was drafted by Carolina in the first round, 13th overall, of the 2016 NHL Draft.
Headline photo: @NHLCanes
