Florida Panthers<\/p>\n
Carolina Hurricanes<\/p>\n
TNT | Thursday, May 22nd 8:00 PM EDT<\/p>\n
Hurricanes defensiveman Jalen Chatfield will be a game-time decision for Thursday’s contest against the Florida Panthers, head coach Rod Brind’Amour told WRAL. Chatfield has missed the past two games with an undisclosed injury, but did take part of morning skate earlier today.<\/p>\n
“We’d love to get him in there,” Brind’Amour said hours before the start of Game 2 at the Lenovo Center “He’s such a big part of this team and the back end and we know how well he skates, and just, man, he’s everything. So if we can get him in there, that would be a huge boost.”<\/p>\n
Chatfield played in 79 games for the Canes this regular season, adding 18 points and a +22 goal differential. He plays a pivotal role in the Hurricanes league-best penalty kill.<\/p>\n
Florida won the opener 5-2<\/a> behind two power-play goals. Carolina had the top penalty kill in the playoffs entering the series.<\/p>\n It was Carolina’s first home loss of the playoffs (5-1).<\/p>\n Defenseman Scott Morrow made his playoff debut in Chatfield’s place in Game 1. Morrow played 12:18, the fewest of any Carolina defenseman, in the loss and was minus-3. He also took a penalty for delay of game, and Florida scored on the ensuing power play.<\/p>\n Rookie Alexander Nikishin made his NHL debut in the Hurricanes’ series-clinching Game 5 victory against Washington when Chatfield was out. Nikishin played 10:33 and also took a penalty.<\/p>\n The Hurricanes have lost 13 consecutive games in the Eastern Conference Final, spread across four series.<\/p>\n