In a Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee that had the feel of a playoff preview, the Carolina Hurricanes took a hit-literally and figuratively-when winger Eric Robinson exited early with an upper-body injury.
The moment came in the first period against the surging Buffalo Sabres. Robinson, battling in front of the net, was trying to jam home a loose puck when he got leveled by Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.
The hit came shoulder-to-shoulder, with Dahlin clearing the crease in textbook fashion, but Robinson stayed down, clearly favoring his left side. After a brief scrum and some tense moments on the ice, Robinson made his way down the tunnel and didn’t return.
The Hurricanes confirmed during the first intermission that he was done for the day.
It’s a tough break for Robinson, who’s been a steady presence on Carolina’s fourth line since signing with the team ahead of the 2024-25 season. The 30-year-old winger out of New Jersey isn’t the flashiest name on the roster, but he’s carved out a key role with his speed, grit, and ability to chip in offensively.
Last season, he posted a career-best 32 points-14 goals and 18 assists-while suiting up for all 82 games. That kind of consistency earned him a four-year deal with a $1.7 million AAV, locking him into the Hurricanes' plans moving forward.
Through 43 games this season, Robinson has already tallied 10 goals and 5 assists, putting him on pace to once again flirt with the 30-point mark. But durability has become a concern. This is the second time he’s been sidelined this year, having previously missed time from late October into early November.
His absence is particularly notable given the stakes of Monday’s game. Carolina came in sitting atop the Eastern Conference, while Buffalo-riding one of the hottest stretches in the league-is clawing to end a 14-year playoff drought.
The Sabres have been playing with urgency, and that edge showed in the physicality of the game. Dahlin’s hit, while clean, was a reminder of the kind of intensity that ramps up as the season wears on and postseason aspirations start to crystallize.
For Carolina, the hope is that Robinson’s injury isn’t long-term. He may not be the headline act, but in a deep lineup built on depth and balance, losing a key role player like Robinson can throw off the rhythm. The Hurricanes will need to adjust quickly-especially with the Eastern Conference shaping up to be a dogfight down the stretch.