7:30 PM: Forget about just missing the series-opener. Following the head, head coach Rod Brind’Amour told reporters including Cory Lavalette of the North State Journal that Niederreiter is “very doubtful” to return in this series.
3:46 PM: The Carolina Hurricanes had a surprise lineup change just before Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning Sunday as Nino Niederreiter is expected to sit out. According to Luke DeCock of the News & Observer, the forward was injured during practice Saturday and was considered questionable for the game. Former Lightning Cedric Paquette is expected to step into the lineup to replace Niederreiter.
The forward was benched for the remaining 9:49 of regulation and overtime Thursday in Game 6 against Nashville along with Jesper Fast and Steven Lorentz, but that was considered bench shortening. Of course, Niederreiter hasn’t made a major impact so far in the playoffs with just one goal and no assists in six games even though he tallied one of his best regular seasons in years with 20 goals and 34 points.
Paquette, who played with the Stanley Cup champion Lightning last season, was traded twice during the regular season before finding himself with Carolina where he has been nursing an injury, but was ready as an extra, if needed. Paquette, however, could have extra incentive to play hard against his former team.
The Lightning will also be without defenseman David Savard who is out with an upper-body injury. He will be replaced in the lineup with Luke Schenn.
Currently, this is an upgrade for the Hurricanes. Nino has been struggling and Paquette brings much needed physicality.
Haha, upgrade? Haha, no way bro. We have seen Ced play.
Haha, upgrade? Haha, no way bro. We have seen Ced play. The Bolts will gladly take the extra 2 power plays he’ll gone them for stupid penalties.
comments so dumb you have to post them twice
And Ced only committed 1 stupid penalty, my bad.
As dumb as thinking Ced is an upgrade over Nino? Ha
Isn’t going to really matter. Canes have had a nice season but Tampa and Colorado are the best teams and will meet for the Cup. The games leading up to the finals will be good entertainment but won’t make a difference in the inevitable. And I don’t have a horse in the race.