SUNRISE, Florida — Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin left Wednesday's Eastern Conference finals Game 4 early in the first period after taking a high hit from Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett.
Slavin was later ruled out for the game with an upper-body injury. Slavin was playing the puck behind his own net when Bennett laid a massive check on the Hurricanes' top blueliner, who subsequently hit his head on the boards while falling to the ice.
Slavin attempted to stand but struggled regaining his balance. He was eventually helped off the ice and escorted to the Carolina locker room by a trainer.
There was no penalty called on Bennett for the hit. However, ensuring reaction from Slavin's teammates — slashing by Brent Burns and cross-checking by Jordan Martinook — put Florida on a power play.