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.

Hurricanes' Jesperi Kotkaniemi: Buries goal in lossKotkaniemi scored a goal on six shots in Thursday's 7-5 loss to the Senators. Kotkaniemi has two points over the last two games after being ...

That’s what happened to Kotkaniemi on Tuesday, when Devils center Dawson Mercer lifted his stick into Kotkaniemi’s face. How Hurricanes-Devils Game 5 lived up to expectations of the unexpected ...

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.

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.