Brendan Woods will return from the holiday break the same way he began it – as an NHL player.
The Carolina Hurricanes recalled the second-year forward on Friday, one day before their schedule was set to resume with a road game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 22-year-old recorded one shot on goal in 6:10 of ice time in his NHL debut, Carolina’s 2-1 shootout victory over New Jersey on Tuesday.
The recall of Woods could leave the Checkers, who have not played since Woods’ first recall, one player short as they begin a three-game road trip with back-to-back games in Texas and Oklahoma City on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. That said, they could make a lineup if any of forward Brody Sutter or defensemen Keegan Lowe or Beau Schmitz were able to return from injury.
The Checkers are expected to add a goaltender for the trip while Drew MacIntyre represents Canada at the Spengler Cup in Switzerland.
Woods is tied for fourth on the Checkers in scoring with 13 points (6g, 7a), having already surpassed his career-highs in goals and points, in just 29 games.
