Losing on the scoreboard was bad enough for the Carolina Hurricanes. But after their 7-4 loss at the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night, their thoughts focused on two potentially devastating losses for their lineup.
Center Jordan Staal and goalkeeper Frederik Andersen both left the game injured. Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour gave no update on either player, but noted, “It’s not looking good. Tough night.”
Staal took his final shift 8 minutes, 54 seconds into the third period, leaving the bench after absorbing a big hit from Colorado defenseman Cale Makar. Staal had two goals in Denver, giving him six goals in his past six games.
Andersen went out at 4:31 in the game, favoring his left leg after making a routine save. He was helped onto the bench and then went straight to the back.
Both are key players for Carolina. Andersen was among the top goaltenders in the league, going 35-14-3 in 52 games with a .922 save percentage. Staal has 34 points in 74 games and is also one of the team’s key defensive players.
Brind’Amour said Staal and Andersen’s losses were part of a miserable night for the Hurricanes.
“I didn’t like the result,” said the coach. “Then a few people get hurt. That’s really the biggest concern. It’s not a good night for us. That’s for sure.”
The Hurricanes lost their second straight game and their fifth in eight games. They are tied with the New York Rangers for first place in the Metropolitan Division. Both teams have six games left.
“It’s never fun watching your own teammate crash,” said Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho. “We’ve had a little misfortune right now. We’ll see what we’re about. It hasn’t gone our way lately. A couple of very big players are going down tonight.
“Those are the moments when a team needs to come together, come back even stronger. [I’m] 100 percent confident that’s exactly what’s going to happen.”