04/23/24 02:47:00
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04/23 12:50 CDT Defensemen injuries are already piling up early in the NHL
playoffs
Defensemen injuries are already piling up early in the NHL playoffs
By STEPHEN WHYNO
AP Hockey Writer
Deep NHL playoff runs Jason Demers went on during his playing career usually
ended the same way.
"The injuries just accumulated too much," he said. "And then you're just not
playing at 100%."
That attrition is already showing early in the first round this spring at
Demers' old position, as defenses have been depleted by existing and new
injuries, from Tampa Bay's Mikhail Sergachev and Colorado's Samuel Girard being
out long term to Carolina's Brett Pesce going down Monday night and Washington
being down to minor leaguers to fill its many voids.
There were 70 goals scored over the first 10 games in the first round, a
product of not just hot offense sparked by some of the league's top players but
team-wide struggles to keep the puck out of the net.
Pesce's injury is the latest potentially significant one to crop up, leaving
Game 2 against the New York Islanders hobbled following a noncontact play.
Coach Rod Brind'Amour said afterward the situation was "not looking good," and
it's the first major test of depth for the slight Stanley Cup favorite
Hurricanes.
Tony DeAngelo would be the next veteran defenseman up.
"We're in kind of wait-and-see mode right now," Brind'Amour said Tuesday,
acknowledging there's some extra time before his team goes for a 3-0 series
lead Thursday night on Long Island. "Don't want to really jump the gun yet."
The Metropolitan Division-rival Capitals have been dealing with blue line
losses for weeks now, finishing the regular season without injured Rasmus
Sandin and Nick Jensen, as well as Ethan Bear, who's in the player assistance
program. Rookie Vincent Iorio was injured in their Game 1 defeat Sunday at the
New York Rangers, pressing Lucas Johansen in for his NHL playoff debut.
Johansen joined fellow American Hockey League call-up Dylan McIlrath in
Washington's lineup. If nothing else, the team is accustomed to drawing from
AHL Hershey.
"The same way we have with other injuries, departures that we've had all year:
It's going to be opportunity for other players to step up and then also not
putting that on one person's shoulders," coach Spencer Carbery said recently.
"The group --- D corps, forwards --- doing a little bit more to help alleviate
(the absences)."
Tampa Bay has been dealing with life without Sergachev since the 25-year-old
broke his left leg in early February. He has been ruled out for the first round
against Florida, but has been skating and could return if the Lightning beat
the defending Eastern Conference champions and advance to face Boston or
Toronto.
To do so, coach Jon Cooper said Max Crozier, summoned from the minors on
Monday, "might have to play" because Nick Perbix is banged up. The Lightning
got eliminated in the first round last year only after experienced D-man Erik
Cernak was concussed.
Girard, who was sidelined for much of the Avalanche's 2022 Cup run that
finished by beating Tampa Bay because of a broken sternum, has been out and in
of concussion protocol since injuring his head April 13 against Winnipeg.
Colorado lost its playoff opener to the Jets 7-6 on Sunday night, the third
time in six games the Avs have allowed seven goals.
Coach Jared Bednar said Girard is skating and "progressing," positive news that
he could return when the series shifts to Denver later this week.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL
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