Carolina is working from a position of strength, leading the best-of-7 series 2-0 heading into Game 3 at UBS Arena on Friday (7 p.m. ET; TBS, SN1, TVAS2, MSGSN, BSSO), but they were already missing forwards Andrei Svechnikov (torn ACL in right knee) and Max Pacioretty (torn right Achilles tendon). Those three forwards would be each playing on their top two lines if they were healthy.
"You're losing big pieces of your team," coach Rod Brind'Amour said before the Hurricanes flew to New York on Thursday. "It's just hard, but we've done it all year. We found ways, so we're just going to have to put somebody else in there and pick up the slack. The good part about that is we've done it all year. We've had big pieces out for long stretches and now we've just got more of the same."
Jesse Puljujarvi is the leading candidate to take Teravainen's spot in the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the first two games against the Islanders. The 24-year-old had two assists and averaged 12:12 of ice time in 17 regular-season games for the Hurricanes after being acquired in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 28.
RELATED: [Complete Hurricanes vs. Islanders series coverage]
Mackenzie MacEachern could be another option after the 29-year-old was called up from Chicago of the American Hockey League on Thursday. MacEachern has not played in the NHL this season but had two assists in 14 games for the St. Louis Blues last season. He had no points in five Stanley Cup Playoff games with them in 2020.
Puljujarvi had five points (three goals, two assists) in 20 playoff games with the Oilers, so he has experience. But the Hurricanes will need a group effort to fill Teravainen's role, which included time on the penalty kill and power play. Teravainen had 37 points (12 goals, 25 assists) and averaged 16:55 of ice time in 68 regular-season games, skating mostly on the top line with fellow Finland native Sebastian Aho and either Seth Jarvis or Martin Necas.
The 28-year-old, who won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015, did not have a point in the first two games of this series before his hand was struck by Jean-Gabriel Pageau's stick while taking a shot in the third period of Carolina's 4-3 overtime win in Game 2 on Wednesday.
"'Turbo' is an all-around player, you know, PP, PK," Carolina defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere said. "He's one of our main forwards and it [stinks], but I think a lot of guys are going to say it's a next-man-up mentality and something that we've got to just jump on board and pull through for him."
Brind'Amour said Teravainen had surgery on his hand Thursday. He did not rule him out for a return later in the playoffs if the Hurricanes advance far enough but did not sound optimistic.
"He's getting pins put in and everything, so it's pretty bad damage," Brind'Amour said. "I know your question is, 'Is he going to get back?' Very, very doubtful, certainly not anytime soon."
Regardless of who replaces Teravainen, the Hurricanes know they must maintain their focus with the series shifting to New York for the next two games. Carolina won the first two games at home against the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers in the playoffs last season, only to lose the next two in each series on the road. In fact, the Hurricanes were 0-6 on the road last postseason.
"We play our game, we'll be fine," defenseman Brady Skjei said. "Obviously, last year didn't work out. Scoring goals, defending, obviously, is a huge thing in these playoffs. We don't need to change much. We've been playing well so far, and I think if we bring that game on the road, we'll be fine."
