US Olympic LW Pacioretty injured with Canadiens
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Montreal Canadiens left wing Max Pacioretty sustained a lower body injury when he was checked into the goal in the first period against the Carolina Hurricanes, putting in jeopardy his spot on the U.S. Olympic hockey team.
Pacioretty collided with the goal with 7:30 left in the first period Saturday after being checked by Carolina's Brett Bellemore in the teams' final game before the Olympic break.
A native of New Canaan, Conn., Pacioretty was scheduled to leave for Sochi, Russia, on Sunday to join the American team, which opens play on Thursday against Slovakia.
The 25-year-old Pacioretty has played 49 games this season. He has 26 goals and 11 assists. Pacioretty had second hat trick of the season Thursday in a 5-2 win over Vancouver.
