Hurricanes' Pitkanen taken off on stretcher
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Joni Pitkanen was taken off the ice on a stretcher during the second period of Tuesday's game against the Washington Capitals.
Pitkanen was skating hard down the ice, trying to beat a Capitals player for a touch-up on a potential icing call when the injury occurred. He got to the puck first, but his skates went into the boards and he immediately crumbled to the ice, writhing in pain.
Hurricanes goaltender Justin Peters waived to the bench for assistance, and Pitkanen was strapped to a stretcher and taken into an ambulance.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Pitkanen, 29, has appeared in 21 games this year and totaled nine points (1G, 8A) in this his ninth NHL season.