Andrej Nestrasil is returning to Carolina after a brief conditioning stint with the Checkers.
Nestrasil, 23, appeared in three road games for Charlotte and was held scoreless, though he the Checkers did go 2-1 during that stretch. He also racked up 17 penalty minutes during his AHL stint, 15 of which came against the Milwaukee Admirals in his second game. Nestrasil was called for butt-ending at the end of the first period, resulting in a five minute major and a 10 minute game misconduct, ending his night.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound native of Prague, Czech Republic, is recovering from an upper-body injury that forced the Hurricanes to put him on IR in mid-December. After three games with the Checkers, Nestrasil will look to return to the Carolina lineup for the first time since Dec. 8. The Hurricanes host the Canucks Friday night before heading to Ottawa to take on the Senators the next day.
Aside from losing Nestrasil, the Checkers could be without another forward for this weekend's home series against Toronto, as Chad LaRose left Wednesday's game with an injury and did not return. If LaRose is unable to suit up for the games, the Checkers would be back to having 12 forwards and no healthy extras unless Brody Sutter is able to return from an injury that has sidelined him since mid-November.
