Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said Thursday winger Max Pacioretty’s non-contact injury “doesn’t look good.”
Pacioretty’s health became an issue in the final minute after the Hurricanes’ 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild at the PNC Arena. No one was near Pacioretty as he attempted to pass the puck next to the Wild-net. He took a few steps, made a quick cut and his right leg immediately went airborne before Pacioretty fell to the ice.
He stayed on the ice with his right leg in the air. The game was stopped with 19.3 seconds in the game. The Hurricanes’ athletic training staff came onto the ice to support Pacioretty as he was surrounded by some teammates.
Pacioretty, not putting weight on his right leg and foot, was then escorted back to the Hurricanes bench by his teammates.
“It’s not looking good. We don’t know, but it’s not looking good,” Brind’Amour said after the game. “It’s difficult to say. We know what kind of player he is, we got a taste of it, it was exciting and he’s the kind of player we need – a guy who can put the puck in the net. But obviously, hopefully it’s not as bad as you think, but I’m not too optimistic at the moment.”
Acquiring Pacioretty, a six-time 30-goal scorer, in an offseason trade with the Vegas Golden Knights was a move that would bolster the Hurricanes by giving them a top-six winger. Those plans were changed when the team announced in August that Pacioretty would be out for six months to repair a torn Achilles tendon.
Pacioretty made his debut on January 5 and scored his first two goals of the season in a 4-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 7. Including the game against the Wild, Pacioretty has scored three goals in five games.
The 34-year-old winger logged 16:38 with three shots against the Wild before leaving the game.
“Listen, we need to get out there, pick up the pieces and move on,” Brind’Amour said. “It’s just the nature of the game. At the moment it’s hard to be too excited about a win when you know what’s likely to happen here.”