Hurricanes' Pesce to miss rest of season after shoulder surgery

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce underwent right-shoulder surgery and is expected to be sidelined for the next four-to-six months, the team announced Thursday.

The 25-year-old was one of Carolina's key defenders this season, scoring four goals and adding 14 assists in 61 games while averaging 21:53 of ice time. He's in the second campaign of a six-year, $24.15-million contract signed in 2017.

Injuries are piling up on the club's blue line. After losing Dougie Hamilton to a fractured fibula in January, the team acquired defensemen Brady Skjei and Sami Vatanen at the trade deadline to bolster its defense corps. Vatanen, who hasn't played since Feb. 1 due to a leg injury, suffered a setback in practice on Thursday and is looking at missing even more time, head coach Rod Brind'Amour said, according to The Athletic's Sara Civian.

The Hurricanes currently sit three points behind the New York Islanders for the second wild-card spot in the East.