Dougie Returns with a Long Ice Bath
It had been 209 days since
Dougie Hamilton last dressed in a game for the Canes, his All-Star season unfortunately cut short by a freak injury in mid-January in Columbus.
The Canes expected to have Hamilton back for the playoffs anyway, and then when the pause punted the postseason four months down the calendar, his return was an inevitability. Then, during Phase 3 training camp, he suffered another setback and was forced to sit out of the Cup Qualifiers.
Tuesday night's delay was yet another obstacle to his return, but Hamilton was finally back once the puck dropped in Game 1. He was paired with his partner, Jaccob Slavin, and was featured on the point on the first power-play unit, all familiar spots for the offensive-minded blue-liner who was having a career season.
Hamilton finished the day with three blocks in 26:48 of ice time.
Game 1 Recap: Canes Fall to Bruins in Double Overtime