Report;Jaccob Slavin injury update: Sam Bennett of the Panthers delivers a huge blow to the Hurricanes defenceman, forcing him out)
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In the Eastern Conference Final, the Hurricanes needed a miracle simply to frighten the Panthers. They failed to connect after defenseman Jaccob Slavin was knocked out on Wednesday night.
Just over a minute into Game 4, Slavin received a big hit from Panthers center Sam Bennett, sending his body crashing into the ice and his head hitting the end boards. He had no choice but to exit the game.
Despite being a severe hit, authorities determined that it was lawful. Bennett punched Slavin in the chest while he was handling the puck. Slavin was still caught off guard by the blow since he was staring down at the puck.
Nevertheless, the Panthers turned in a power play. Following a post-hit scrum, Brent Burns of Carolina and Jordan Martinook were given two-minute minor penalties for cutting and cross-checking, respectively. Matthew Tkachuk, a star with the Panthers, was also called for slashing.
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The Hurricanes had lost the previous three games of the series and had given up a goal less than a minute before the hit, so their level of frustration was at an all-time high. With the season ended, Slavin’s status is no longer a big deal for Carolina, but given how severely he was hit, his health is still an issue.
What is known regarding Slavin’s injuries following Bennett’s hit is as follows.
Update on Jaccob Slavin’s injuries
Slavin was wobbly immediately after the hit, and it’s no surprise Carolina was cautious after his head appeared to hit the wall as he fell to the ice.
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The 29-year-old had six points through 14 playoff games entering Wednesday. He has been held without a point by the Panthers in the series, though that has been the case for much of the Hurricanes’ roster. Carolina scored just three goals over the first three games.
Losing Slavin, who finished ninth in Norris Trophy voting a year ago, represented a major blow to a team that sat one loss away from elimination. With the Hurricanes now out, all of the focus will be on getting Slavin back to full health as carefully as possible