After a fantastic regular season, the Carolina Hurricanes powered through to the Eastern Conference semi-finals, but have now run into an 0-2 hole against the New York Rangers. Things aren't getting better either, as it is now expected that the 'Canes will be without defenseman Brett Pesce for the remainder of the season.
Pesce suffered a non-contact injury during the first round series against the Islanders, and is yet to skate since, and while his status is officially TBD, it's not looking good for the veteran. A few days ago, the 'Canes were hopeful of a return, but at this point, all signs are looking like he will be done no matter how far they go in the playoffs.
Now, the Hurricanes have to rely on the next man up mentality, because if they can't fight their way out of the 0-2 hole heading back to Carolina, this series could be over very quickly.
| POLL | ||
MAI 8 | 125 ANSWERS Hurricanes likely lose key defenseman for the remainder of the year Can the Carolina Hurricanes come back and win their second round series without Brett Pesce? | ||
| Yes | 54 | 43.2 % |
| No | 71 | 56.8 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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YESTERDAY
APRIL 26, 2026
| ||||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Nathan MacKinnon | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Brandon Hagel | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Evan Bouchard | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Bowen Byram | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Josh Doan | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jake Guentzel | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Peyton Krebs | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Alex Tuch | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| John Carlson | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Nikita Kucherov | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Jackson Lacombe | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Gabriel Landeskog | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Connor McDavid | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Janis Jerome Moser | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Zach Benson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Zachary Bolduc | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Cole Caufield | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Joel Edmundson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Cutter Gauthier | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Mikael Granlund | 1 | - | 1 | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||
| 2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS | ||||||
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Sabres | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | |
| Lightning | 82 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 106 | |
| Canadiens | 82 | 48 | 24 | 10 | 106 | |
| Bruins | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 100 | |
| Senators | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 99 | |
| Red Wings | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 92 | |
| Panthers | 82 | 40 | 38 | 4 | 84 | |
| Maple Leafs | 82 | 32 | 36 | 14 | 78 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Hurricanes | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 113 | |
| Penguins | 82 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 98 | |
| Flyers | 82 | 43 | 27 | 12 | 98 | |
| Capitals | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 95 | |
| Blue Jackets | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | |
| Islanders | 82 | 43 | 34 | 5 | 91 | |
| Devils | 82 | 42 | 37 | 3 | 87 | |
| Rangers | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Avalanche | 82 | 55 | 16 | 11 | 121 | |
| Stars | 82 | 50 | 20 | 12 | 112 | |
| Wild | 82 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 104 | |
| Mammoth | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Blues | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 86 | |
| Predators | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 86 | |
| Jets | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | |
| Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 39 | 14 | 72 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Golden Knights | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 95 | |
| Oilers | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 93 | |
| Ducks | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Kings | 82 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 90 | |
| Sharks | 82 | 39 | 35 | 8 | 86 | |
| Kraken | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 | |
| Flames | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| Canucks | 82 | 25 | 49 | 8 | 58 | |
COMPLETE STANDINGS | ||||||