RALEIGH, N.C. -- Nikolaj Ehlers and Alexander Nikishin could be available for the Carolina Hurricanes at the start of the Eastern Conference Second Round.
“I’m hopeful that both guys will be ready by the looks of it,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said after neither practiced Tuesday.
Ehlers missed Carolina’s series-clinching 4-2 win against the Ottawa Senators in Game 4 of the first round on Saturday because of a lower-body injury. The forward has one assist in three games after ranking second for the Hurricanes during the regular season with 71 points (26 goals, 45 assists) in 82 games. The 30-year-old signed a six-year, $51 million contract ($8.5 million average annual value) on July 5 after 10 seasons with the Winnipeg Jets.
Nicolas Deslauriers made his series debut; he had one shot on goal, four hits and a blocked shot in 3:09 of ice time.
Ehlers did not practice Wednesday.
"He's getting better every day," Brind'Amour said. "So, I would anticipate him coming out here shortly."
Nikishin, a defenseman, practiced fully Wednesday; he was diagnosed with a concussion after leaving Game 4 in the second period. The 24-year-old rookie needed assistance leaving the ice following a hit from Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven.
"They said right away that he didn't really have a lot of symptoms," Brind'Amour said. "I think he's feeling good, and whatever he's got to do to get tested or whatever is going along in the right direction."
Carolina will face either the Philadelphia Flyers or Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round; Philadelphia leads that best-of-7 series 3-2 and hosts Game 6 on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, SN-PIT, truTV, TNT, NBCSP, SN360, TVAS).
“Everybody who has had to step in has really contributed,” Brind’Amour said. “There certainly hasn’t been a dip in our play with really key guys out."
