“He dodged a bullet,” the Carolina Hurricanes’ head coach, Rod Brind’Amour, said about how his Finnish star, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, came close to disaster on Tuesday. The Canes picked up their fourth win of Round 1 against the New Jersey Devils to lock in the seven-game series on April 29 and advance to the next round of the 2025 playoffs. However, it was Kotkaniemi’s sacrifice for the squad that got the fans wheezing.
Sebastian Aho‘s double overtime winner, which booked the Hurricanes’ berth to Round 2, was undoubtedly the biggest highlight of the day from earlier this week. The Finn’s power play goal ended the match 5-4 in the Carolina Hurricanes’ favor and eliminated the Devils in 5 games. However, it was Kotkaniemi who was the reason the Canes were awarded the power play in the first place. But it could have also ended in catastrophe for the 24-year-old center, and fans can hardly keep their gasps silent. So much so that some fans are even taking the extra step and arguing that Jesperi’s condition would be enough for many NBA stars to call it quits.
The Carolina Hurricanes’ beat reporter Cory Lavalette took to X on May 1 to share images of Kotkaniemi’s black eye. “Kotkaniemi, sporting quite the black eye,” the caption reads, as the post notes that the NHL star would still be available for Round 2 of the playoffs. On Tuesday, Jesperi took quite a blow to the face from Devils’ forward Dawson Mercer‘s stick and immediately fell on the ice with his head in his hands. Subsequently, he made his way through the tunnel and into the Canes’ locker room with a bloody towel covering Kotkaniemi’s face. The incident got the Devils a four-minute double minor penalty, which Aho made the most of.
Kotkaniemi, sporting quite the black eye, says he’ll be good to go for Rd 2 pic.twitter.com/u8n7CYZEm1
— Cory Lavalette (@corylav) May 1, 2025
But the viscous Scandinavian blood that runs through Jesperi’s veins wouldn’t let such a “minor” mishap bring him down. “KK took one for the boys. I know he doesn’t mind at all. He’ll trade a few stitches in the corner of his eye to clinch a series,” Aho joked after the Carolina Hurricanes took the Devils out of the Stanley Cup contention. Kotkaniemi, too, knew that he wasn’t roughed up too badly. “Wasn’t too bad. Just saw it leaking a little bit. I was able to see the whole time so [I knew] it wasn’t too bad,” he grinned later.
Faceshields became a mandatory part of hockey gear in the NHL in 2013. While life-threatening injuries are part and parcel of the sport, eyes have always been a soft target, given the pucks flying all over and sticks being thrown in every direction. Jesperi’s eye condition would once again show that no matter what, accidents can still get the heart to skip a beat despite precautionary measures. Thankfully, though, the Carolina Hurricanes star looked to be in a lucid mood despite the freak incident.
However, he also admitted that “it was tough” to let the medical staff tend to his eyes while his Carolina Hurricanes teammates went about their business at the PNC Area, now officially known as the Lenovo Center. However, he also underscored that his eyesight is not an issue at the moment, despite the soreness, and that he would be lacing up for Round 2. And yet, looking at the massive black spot on his face, fans couldn’t help if accidents like this are by default, occupations hazards for athletes and sportsmen alike across the realm, not just limited to hockey.
The Carolina Hurricanes’ star’s woes prompt fans to take a dig at the NBA
Unlike the Carolina Hurricanes, the LA Lakers haven’t been as lucky. The NBA squad made its exit from round 1 of the playoffs, and with that, their star power forward, LeBron James‘ career, is now also in question. The 4x NBA champ and four-time NBA Finals MVP’s 22nd professional basketball season ended in disappointment. However, while James’ accolades are stupendous, his recent noncommitment about returning to action has earned him public ire. LeBron sustained a groin injury in Boston on March 8, following which he was missing from court action. Drawing parallels to this, some fans pointed out how a situation like Jesperi’s would have prompted LeBron to hang up his boots. “LeBron would’ve retired,” sneered one fan. Another reflected a similar sentiment: “nba players would be retiring with an injury like this“.
Apr 3, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs have been marked by steep competition, and brawls have been a part of it. The Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning have exchanged blows, literally, whenever they had the opportunity, which didn’t fail to delight the fans. On the other hand, it has also prompted comparisons as to how hockey players often weather serious situations better than others. After Tuesday proved to be a costly day for the Carolina Hurricanes star, this sentiment reignited. “These guys are total warriors,” one fan admitted. “Hockey players are a rare breed,” another NHL loyalist backed up the thought.
At just 24 years old, Kotkaniemi has already made a name for himself as a big-stage performer. Along with his 76 regular-season career goals, the Fin also boasts 12 goals, 11 assists in 74 postseason games under his belt. With that in mind, fans can’t wait to see what the future holds for the young Suomi. One Canes fan was eager to see Jesperi back on the team: “what a beast. hope he gets lots of rest and healing though.” However, another fan was quite convinced that such bruises are what make a star. “Awesome battle scar!” reads the fan’s sonorous comment.
So what did you think of Kotkaniemi’s injury and his determination to get back into the rink? Tell us in a comment!
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