Vincent Trocheck is a warrior.
The Carolina Hurricanes center admitted Thursday that he played through a sprained MCL in Game 5 of the second round against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"It’s just the feeling that if the season was going to end, I didn’t want to be in the stands," he said, according to NHL.com's Michael Smith.
Trocheck suffered the injury in Game 2 of the series when he collided with teammate Warren Foegele.
After returning for the start of the third, Vincent Trocheck has gone back to the Canes' locker room.
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 2, 2021
He collided with Warren Foegele late in the second period. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/uNAzLGD0Zx
The 27-year-old missed Games 3 and 4 but returned for Game 5, which ended up being Carolina's last of the season. The injury won't require offseason surgery, Trocheck added.
Trocheck recorded 43 points in 47 games during the regular season and added two goals and one assist in nine postseason contests.
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