Kristen ShiltonESPN NHL Reporter May 24, 2023 9:07pm ET1 minute read
SUNRISE, Fla. — Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin walked out of Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals early Wednesday in the first half after taking a high hit from Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett.
Slavin later had to miss the game due to an upper-body injury.
Slavin played the puck from behind his own net when Bennett hit a massive check on the Hurricanes’ top blueliner, who then banged his head on the rail while falling to the ice. Slavin tried to get up but struggled to regain his balance. Eventually, a coach helped him off the ice and escorted him to the Carolina locker room.
No penalty was imposed on Bennett for the goal. However, ensuring reaction from Slavin’s teammates — a slash from Brent Burns and a countercheck from Jordan Martinook — put Florida on a power play.
Carolina was already 1-0 down when Slavin was eliminated after Anthony Duclair scored 41 seconds into the first period. Carolina is 3-0 behind Florida in the best-of-seven series and faces elimination in Game 4.
Slavin has been a playmaker for the Hurricanes all season, recording two goals and six points in 14 playoff games. In the off-season, its average ice time is 24 minutes.
Hurricanes forward Stefan Noesen also left the bench in the first period, but no update was given on his status.