The road trip, while good for the Carolina Hurricanes, wasn't without its trials and tribulations. The injury bug caught up with them during the State Fair trip for the second year in a row, and while getting Seth Jarvis back during the journey was great, it still left the team slightly short-handed for the majority. It makes their 3-1-1 record all the more impressive.
The Hurricanes took Sunday to rest and recuperate before hopping onto the ice on Monday for practice in anticipation of the first of three straight games at home on Tuesday against the red-hot Boston Bruins. It was our first chance to get updates on some of the injured players who'd missed the trip or were hurt before its conclusion, and the news was largely positive.
While out on Tuesday, Mark Jankowski shouldn't be out long-term
Missing from the normal group on Monday was Mark Jankowski. Amidst a six-game goal streak, Jankowski was unable to play last Sunday in Calgary, with the team sending him home for further testing because of a lower-body injury. It took another center away from the team after Jordan Staal's calf tear earlier this month.
It had been radio silence from the team regarding Jankowski's status until Monday. While he didn't participate with the group, Jankowski worked with assistant coach Jeff Daniels before practice, and he's expected to skate with the full team during Tuesday's morning skate. He's not going to play against the Bruins, but his participation should be a good sign that the injury isn't too serious.
Taylor Hall should be good to go for Tuesday's contest
Another player missing from the trip was Taylor Hall, who suffered an apparent upper-body injury after taking a hit in the first period of the team's last home game before the trip against Washington. Hall didn't play during the team's five-game trip, so Monday was our first look at him as well. His status should make the fans a lot happier.
Hall was a full participant, slotting in on the third line next to Jordan Martinook and Seth Jarvis. After practice, Hall expressed that he should be good to go for the game against one of his former teams, bringing another valuable winger back into the lineup. Hall was playing well before his injury, recording all five of his points in the four games prior, including two goals in Montreal.
No Alexander Nikishin yet, but the team is ready for his return
Absent from Monday's proceedings was also the newly extended Alexander Nikishin. It shouldn't have been too much of a shock, given when things were announced on Sunday evening. However, it didn't stop him from being at the center of many questions for the head coach and a few players in the locker room. After all, it has been at the forefront of everyone's minds for a few months.
Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour, to no one's surprise, was very diplomatic in his addressing of the situation. Along with saying Nikishin will likely need a mini training camp before really getting going, he talked about how hockey is a business, but he'll be embraced by the team when he returns. I doubt that fewer people were more excited than Pyotr Kochetkov, who is very happy that his friend is back.
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