Brind'Amour Says Nikishin Option for Game 3 — Hurricanes Hockey

Hurricanes hockey returned to Lenovo Center on Wednesday morning with Alexander Nikishin back in the conversation for Game 3 after the Carolina Hurricanes won the first two games at home. Rod Brind'Amour said Nikishin had cleared concussion protocol and could be used tomorrow, giving Carolina a possible defensive change as the series shifts after a two-day gap.

Lenovo Center practice

The Hurricanes took Tuesday off the ice after their dramatic overtime win, then worked Wednesday with the next matchup in view. Nikishin stayed an extra at practice, while Mike Reilly skated with Shayne Gostisbehere.

Brind'Amour kept the update direct: “He's been cleared and had a good practice” and “He's definitely an option for tomorrow.” That puts the defenseman back into the mix after he played in 81 of 82 regular-season games and appeared in all four first-round games against Ottawa.

Aho's playoff standard

Sebastian Aho said the group is treating the stretch as a short playoff test rather than a reset. “We've still got to make plays when the play is there. Most of the time, playoff hockey is a grind mentality. Nothing stupid,” he said, adding that the team needs to keep doing what it does away from the puck and be smarter with the puck.

That message fits the way Carolina handled the opening two games. The club won Game 1 in a shutout and then followed with the overtime result on Monday, with the lineup tweak during the third period helping spark the tying goal. Reilly, who was paired with Gostisbehere at Wednesday's skate, also played in the opening shutout.

Road stretch ahead

Carolina now carries a two-game edge into the next stage of the series after defending home ice. The next look at the lineup will determine whether Nikishin joins the group or remains outside the rotation, but the immediate task is the same: keep the series from turning once the road stretch begins.