Hurricanes to get huge boost ahead of Game 1 of Eastern final

It sounds like the Carolina Hurricanes could get a huge offensive boost ahead of the Eastern Conference Final against Florida. Teuvo Teravainen hasn’t played since he suffered a hand injury in Game 2 of the first-round series against the New York Islanders. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour wouldn’t say definitively if Teravainen would play but he is hopeful that he can be in the Canes’ lineup for Game 1.

The bench boss expects to make the call after morning practice on Thursday.

It is a tough call to make since Teravainen underwent surgery on his hand a day after it was stuck by New York’s Jean-Gabriel Pageau in an uncalled slashing penalty that Brind’Amour described as an “absolutely tomahawk chops him, absolutely.” At the time, Brind’Amour had said Teravainen had a broken hand that would require surgery.

Wednesday marks four weeks since the April 19 injury, with surgery taking place the following day.

The Hurricanes are already without forwards Max Pacioretty and Andrei Svechnikov whom they lost ahead of the playoffs to season-ending injuries.

The addition of Teravainen would be a game-changer for the Hurricanes’ run against Florida.

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