Svechnikov could miss rest of East First Round for Hurricanes vs. Bruins

Andrei Svechnikov could be out for the Carolina Hurricanes for the rest of their Eastern Conference First Round series against the Boston Bruins.

He did not play in Game 4 on Monday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

The forward was injured late in the third period of a 3-1 loss in Game 3 on Saturday. The Bruins lead the best-of-7 series after a 4-3 win and can end the series in Game 5 on Wednesday (4 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVAS, NESN, FS-CR).

Asked if Svechnikov could return for the series, Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said, "I highly doubt it."

Brind'Amour said he had no other update other than to say the 20-year-old had an MRI. As part of the NHL Return to Play Plan, a team is not permitted to disclose player injury or illness information.

Svechnikov got tangled with Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara battling in the slot before his right knee appeared to buckle. He was helped off the ice by teammates and went to the locker room with 4:38 remaining.

"It didn't look very good, obviously," Brind'Amour said after the game. "Fell really awkward. Certainly didn't look good. We'll have more, obviously, at some point."

Svechnikov had two shots on goal and five hits in 15:58 of ice time. He was the left wing on the second line with center Vincent Trocheck and right wing Martin Necas.

Svechnikov has seven points (four goals, three assists) in six postseason games, including five points (three goals, two assists) in a three-game sweep of the New York Rangers during the Stanley Cup Qualifiers. After not scoring a point in Game 1 of this series, he had a goal and an assist in Game 2, which Carolina won 3-2.

In 68 games during his second NHL season, Svechnikov was third on the Hurricanes with 61 points (24 goals, 37 assists), behind center Sebastian Aho (66 points) and forward Teuvo Teravainen (63).

When answering a question related to how the Hurricanes could rebound in Game 4, Brind'Amour said Saturday he was having a difficult time finishing his thoughts after what happened to Svechnikov.

"Right now, it's tough because you see a kid go down, and that injury looks really bad," Brind'Amour said. "That's all that's going through my head. I hate it for him. That's it. I can't even comment on anything else, to be honest with you."

As a rookie, Svechnikov was injured in a fight with Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin in Game 3 of the first round last season. The Hurricanes won that game 5-0 and three of the next four games, including a 4-3 double-overtime win in Game 7.

Svechnikov returned in Game 3 of a four-game sweep against the New York Islanders in the second round before Carolina was swept by Boston in the Eastern Conference Final.