Andrei Svechnikov returned to the ice Monday and may play against the San Jose Sharks on Thurday.
The Carolina Hurricanes forward had missed three games due to an upper-body injury. He skated with assistant coach Jeff Daniels before practice, marking his first session since March 9 win over the Winnipeg Jets.
“We’ll find out,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said when asked if Svechnikov could play Thursday. “We’ve got a couple more days. We’ll see where he’s at.
“Obviously if he doesn’t practice with us, that will be an indicator that he probably won’t.
Svechnikov has 43 points (18 goals, 25 assists) in 63 games this season for the Hurricanes (41-22-4), who have won seven in a row and are second in the Metropolitan Division.
“You’re going to have injuries,” Brind’Amour said. “I think guys have always stepped in and done well. We’ve pieced it together, and I think that’s what we’re doing right now.
” — Kurt Dusterberg