Carolina Hurricanes player Jesperi Kotkaniemi talks to the media on May 1, 2025, two days after he was hit in the eye by a New Jersey Devils’ player’s stick during their NHL playoff game.

Carolina Hurricanes player Jesperi Kotkaniemi talks to the media on May 1, 2025, two days after he was hit in the eye by a New Jersey Devils’ player’s stick during their NHL playoff game.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi talks about taking a high stick to the eye in overtime of Game 5 and his status going forward.

But it’s especially in the playoffs that the former Canadiens player has tended to disappear over the past two years. Kotkaniemi has NO goals in his last 23 playoff games… and only five ...

A scary high stick to the Hurricanes’ Jesperi Kotkaniemi turned out to be a best-case scenario for the Hurricanes: The forward escaped a serious eye injury, and the Canes eliminated the Devils ...

Carolina Hurricanes player Jesperi Kotkaniemi talks to the media on May 1, 2025, two days after he was hit in the eye by a New Jersey Devils’ player’s stick during their NHL playoff game.

Carolina Hurricanes player Jesperi Kotkaniemi talks to the media on May 1, 2025, two days after he was hit in the eye by a New Jersey Devils’ player’s stick during their NHL playoff game.

Luke DeCock: Hurricanes’ Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s eye doesn’t look good. He’s lucky it still works. Luke DeCock, The News & Observer May 4, 2025 May 4, 2025 Buy Now ...

Kotkaniemi, his face puffy and bruised, is a lucky man to be able to join them there. ©2025 The News & Observer. Visit at newsobserver.com. Distributed at Tribune Content Agency, LLC.