Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

Hurricanes D Tony DeAngelo out close to a month with upper-body injury

The Carolina Hurricanes are currently battling multiple teams for the top spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Entering Thursday's action, the team is 35-11-4 with 74 points, just behind the top-seeded Florida Panthers, who are 35-11-5 (75 points).

The Hurricanes found out on Thursday that they'll now be without their co-leader in assists for a good portion of the remaining regular season schedule.

A former 2014 first-round selection of the Tampa Bay Lightning, DeAngelo is in his first season with Carolina after one year with the Arizona Coyotes and the last four with the New York Rangers. His best season came in 2019-2020 with the Rangers, when he posted career-highs in games played (68), points (53), assists (38) and goals (15).

Through his 43 contests played in this season, DeAngelo has scored nine times, is tied with Sebastian Aho for the team-lead in assists with 31 and is tied for third in points with 40.

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