Brind'Amour 'highly doubts' Svechnikov returns in playoffs

Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour "highly doubts" forward Andrei Svechnikov will return this postseason after suffering an apparent leg injury in Game 3 versus the Boston Bruins, according to The Athletic's Sara Civian.

Brind'Amour added that he doesn't have an official injury update yet, and that Svechnikov was undergoing an MRI.

The 20-year-old was helped off the ice late in Saturday's clash after a battle with Zdeno Chara in front of the Bruins' net resulted in an awkward fall.

Andrei Svechnikov is helped to the locker room after going down awkwardly here.#NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/0Uz95T2DSr

- Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 15, 2020

Brind'Amour said the ice quality in Toronto likely played a role in the incident.

"The ice conditions at the time of the game had a lot to do with it," he said, according to TSN's Mark Masters. "It's really slushy and your skates dig in a little more at that point and it's just unfortunate. Toes digging in and two guys battling in front, that's part of the game."

Svechnikov is a key member of the Hurricanes' offense, notching seven points this postseason before the injury. He also produced a breakout regular season with 61 points in 68 contests before the pause.

The Bruins lead the first-round series 2-1, with Game 4 scheduled for Monday at 8:00 p.m. ET.

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