RALEIGH, N.C. _ Carolina Hurricanes rookie forward Andrei Svechnikov is in the concussion protocol and his availability uncertain for the playoff series against the Washington Capitals, Canes coach Rod Brind'Amour said Tuesday.
Svechnikov, the No. 2 pick of the 2018 NHL draft, was injured in the first period of Game 3 on Monday after a brief but brutal fight with the Caps' Alex Ovechkin, who landed the heaviest of the blows. Svechnikov, whose head banged off the ice as he fell, was taken to a hospital for treatment and evaluation, Brind'Amour said.
Brind'Amour said he talked with Svechnikov on Tuesday morning, which he called encouraging.
"From seeing him now, he looks normal and he feels great," Brind'Amour said. "That's a real positive sign."
Brind'Amour said it was unlikely Svechnikov would be able to play Thursday in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. The Canes, after a 5-0 win Monday, trail 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.
"We're going to be real careful," Brind'Amour said. "We're certainly not going to rush him back."
Canes forward Micheal Ferland also left Monday's game with an upper-body injury but Brind'Amour had no update on his availability for Game 4.
The Canes may recall a forward from the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL but Brind'Amour said he did not know what player that might be, saying "We're going through all the options." The Canes are not sure if defenseman Calvin de Haan, who has been out with an upper-body injury, will be able to return Thursday.
Svechnikov, 19, scored twice in the series opener as the Canes lost 4-2. He had a few altercations with Ovechkin in Game 2, then a few more Monday before the gloves were dropped by the two Russians.
Brind'Amour said after the game and again Tuesday that he believes Ovechkin was primarily responsible for the fight. He noted there are "two versions" of what happened _ Ovechkin has said Svechnikov wanted to fight.
"I hear all the comments. I get it," Brind'Amour said. "But when you're in the heat of it, you see it a little different. I'm still bothered by it but we've moved on now."
Caps coach Todd Reirden didn't spend much time Tuesday discussing the fight or aftermath, saying, "I see it as two willing combatants and it's part of our sport. Two willing combatants, it didn't work out for one of them and now we're focused on moving forward."
