Carolina Hurricanes forwards
Tuomo Ruutu and
Erik Cole left Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the
Pittsburgh Penguins after suffering what coach
Paul Maurice said were lower-body injuries.
Ruutu, 26, suffered what was being reported as a lower-body injury. He was positioned in front of Pens goalie
Marc-Andre Fleury during the first period when he got tangled up with defenseman
Mark Eaton. He skated gingerly to the bench and did not come back out for the second period.
Ruutu, a five-year NHL veteran, set career highs this season with 26 goals, 28 assists and 54 points in 79 games. In 14 playoff games over the first two rounds, he recorded a goal and three assists.
Ruutu started Game 1 centering a line with
Jussi Jokinen and
Sergei Samsonov. After he left, Maurice used
Rod Brind'Amour and
Matt Cullen on that line.
Cole, who set up the Hurricanes' first goal by
Chad LaRose, was also hurt with 12:08 left in the third when his leg collided with
Matt Cooke in front of the Pittsburgh net. Cole was able to make it back to the Carolina bench, but also did not return.
"I'll know more tomorrow, I don't know much right now," Maurice said after the game. "We'll see how they wake up and see how they feel."