Florida Panthers big star ruled out of finals due to…
Hours before Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final against the New York Rangers later Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe was being stitched up after taking a puck to the face during the morning skate.
Whether that’s a bad omen for the Panthers or a good one depends on how you look at it. It could be a bad omen that one of their top playoff performers is getting hurt before the game even begins. Or it could be a positive sign that that the damage is minimal and nothing more serious — like being struck in the eye, for example — took place.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice confirmed that Verhaeghe received stitches but will be good to go in the crucial contest against the Rangers, with the best-of-7 series tied 2-2. Verhaeghe was hit by the puck after it deflected off goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. The 28-year-old forward exited the ice holding a towel to his face.
The Panthers shut out the Rangers 3-0 in the series opener at MSG before losing Game 2 in New York in overtime, 2-1. Games 3 and 4 of the series each went to overtime in South Florida, the Rangers winning 5-4 in Game 3 before the Panthers tied the series Tuesday with a 3-2 victory.
Rangers must find way to slow down Carter Verhaeghe in playoff series
Verhaeghe has had a terrific series and postseason for the Panthers. He leads all players in this series with six points (three goals, three assists), including a goal in Game 4 on the power play. In Game 3, he had two assists, seven shots on goal and a whopping 20 shot attempts.
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