The Carolina Hurricanes couldn’t have possibly drawn up a worse series than what’s happening to them in the Eastern Conference Final currently.
They’re down 2-0 to the Florida Panthers, getting embarrassed in back-to-back games at home and are also missing two of their regular defensemen to boot.
They then gave up essentially an own-goal to open Game 3 and now to make matters worse, it seems like they’re going to be without impressive rookie Jackson Blake after the 21-year-old absorbed a brutal hit toward the end of the first period.
As Blake was going to retrieve a puck in the Carolina end, Florida forward Eetu Luostarinen hooked the rookie and as he was slipping, finished him head first into the glass.
Luostarinen received a five-minute penalty and the boot from the game for this hit on Jackson Blake
pic.twitter.com/RbUhI2GivR— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 25, 2025
Blake was down on the ice for a long time after the hit holding his head and bleeding from the forehead. He was eventually able to skate off the ice under his own power and went straight to the Canes locker room.
After reviewing the play, Luostarinen was also given a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for the hit.
The Canes trail 1-0 after one period and will have 1:59 of power play time remaining to start the second.
UPDATE: Jackson Blake returned for the second period.
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