Hurricanes’ Gostisbehere set to return after nine-game absence
The Carolina Hurricanes are expected to get a significant boost to their lineup on Saturday night, as defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere is expected to return after missing the past nine games with a lower-body injury.
After the team’s practice on Friday, in which Gostisbehere skated in his usual spots on the top power play unit and on a defensive pairing alongside standout rookie Alexander Nikishin, head coach Rod Brind’Amour told team reporter Walt Ruff that he was “hopeful” that the veteran defenseman would be available for Saturday’s game against the New Jersey Devils. Brind’Amour then followed that up on Saturday saying he was expected to return to the lineup.
Brind’Amour expects Gostisbehere to play today. Bussi in net.
In the midst of his third season and second tenure in Raleigh, Gostisbehere is producing points at the best rate of his career. His 43 points, on 11 goals and 32 assists, in 45 games played would be the closest he’s come to a point-per-game pace in any season since he made his debut back in 2014-15.
While the production has been there for the Florida native, the availability has not. Gostisbehere missed a run of games in October and November, and then again in the middle of January.
He’s not the only Carolina blueliner who has struggled to stay healthy, as Jaccob Slavin has appeared in just 31 of the team’s 71 outings this year.
Despite the injuries to key defensive pieces, Carolina is on track to take first place in the Metropolitan Division for the second time in four years.
The Canes have an eight-point lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins for the division lead, and they have a game in hand on the Pens as well.
When the Stanley Cup Playoffs roll around, Carolina will be looking to get over the hump by making it to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in the Brind’Amour era.
The Hurricanes have won at least one playoff series in all seven prior postseasons during Brind’Amour’s tenure, making it to the Eastern Conference Final on three occasions, but never any further than that.