Brett Pesce's injury 'a big blow' but Tony DeAngelo is ready to help the Hurricanes win

By Kacy Hintz, WRAL Sports anchor

Raleigh, N.C. — Tony DeAngelo stood along the boards with head coach Rod Brind'Amour by his side as Wednesday's team practice came to a close.

"He was just trying to get me in the mindset of being ready. He knows I'll be ready," DeAngelo said. "I told him all year whatever I could do to help win is what I'll do."

With veteran defenseman Brett Pesce "more than likely" out for the remainder of the series against the Islanders, the time is now for DeAngelo.

"It's never good when you lose especially one of the best players on the team," DeAngelo said. "Hopefully I can come in, try and pick up what he's been doing, just do a good job and help the team win."

Pesce went down in the second period of Monday's Game Two win with a non-contact lower-body injury. The veteran blue-liner played in 70 games through the regular-season, notching three goals and assists. Pesce and his defensive partner, Brady Skjei, have been two of the Hurricanes' most consistent pairings over the last few seasons.

"It's a big blow," Brind'Amour said. "He's a big part of what we're doing,"

It's not how DeAngelo would like to crack the lineup, but it's also a role he's had to to play all season. In his second stint with the Hurricanes, DeAngelo has been a healthy scratch for a majority of the season. The defenseman played in 31 games scoring three goals and eight assists.

“It’s unfortunate he didn’t get to play much this year because we were healthy." Brind'Amour said. "But this is exactly why you want a guy like that around."

It's been tough for DeAngelo to sit and watch on, but he understands the role.

"It is what it is, there's guys on each team that have to do it and you have to be ready when the time comes," DeAngelo said. "Now we've got a chance for me to come help out and hopefully I can make a difference."

Playing on this stage is nothing new for DeAngelo, in his first stint with the Hurricanes he played a major role on a team that made a run to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He appeared in all 14 playoff games in 2022, contributing a goal and ten assists.

"Certainly a quality player and we have a lot of faith in him," Brind'Amour said. "Listen, he's been here before. We know what we've got in him, that's why we went and got him."

The 28-year-old is expected to slide in alongside Skjei for Game 3. While the two haven't paired up in a playoff game together, the familiarity is there going back to their playing days with the New York Rangers.

"We've been together for a long time, so I'm looking forward to it," DeAngelo said. "He makes the pairing good with his skating and the way he defends, and I try to take the offensive side of things."

With next-man-up mentality activated,, the group heads to Long Island for Game Three against the Islanders.

"Obviously same focus we've had from the start, but in a different building and a different environment," said Hurricanes Captain Jordan Staal. "It's always a little more challenging on the road. Just try to keep those momentum swings at a minimum.

"Anything can happen so we're refocusing and looking to take Game 3."