The Carolina Hurricanes are one step closer to a potential Stanley Cup title after eliminating the New York Islanders in five games on Tuesday night in the first round of the playoffs.

They were dealt a scare in the series clincher though as defenceman Tony DeAngelo left early due to an injury. However, it appears he's just fine after the X-rays came back negative. GM Don Waddell shed light on DeAngelo and Brett Pesce's injury, revealing the latter could play in round two.

Via Walt Ruff:

“Tony DeAngelo is fine after leaving last night's game during the third period. X-rays were all negative and he is feeling better today.”

“Brett Pesce (lower-body injury) is out of a walking boot. If everything goes as expected, he should play games in Round 2. He may not be ready for Game 1, but the team is hoping to have him available at some point during the series.”

It's important to note that DeAngelo has been playing more lately because of Pesce's injury. When he returns, the 28-year-old won't likely see much ice time. Pesce played in Games 1 and 2 against the Isles before going on the shelf.

Hurricanes moving on

There was never any doubt Carolina would get past New York. After all, they're one of the clear-cut Cup contenders who were in the conference finals a year ago. The Hurricanes advanced in convincing fashion in Game 5 however, thrashing the Islanders 6-3, arguably their best performance of the series.

Carolina came out firing on all cylinders, taking a 3-1 lead into the second period thanks to goals from Teuvo Teravainen, Andrei Svechnikov, and Evgeny Kuznetsov. While NY did tie things up in the second, the third period saw the Canes explode with another three goals from Sebastian Aho, Jack Drury, and Stefan Noesen. Rod Brind'Amour's squad outshot the Isles 38-23 and went a perfect 1 for 1 on the power play.

Is Brind'Amour staying put?

There have been some rumblings about the Hurricanes and their head coach coming to an impasse in contract negotiations. But, Waddell put those rumors to bed on Wednesday in an interview with Michael Russo of The Athletic:

“We’re gonna get it done.,” Waddell reiterated. “I’m not worried about it. He wants to be a Hurricane for life.”

“Rod and I talked today,” Waddell said about the contract negotiations. “I don’t ever bother him on game days, and he doesn’t want to be ever bothered on game days. He wants to try to win the hockey game. But we talked today, and I think we’re in a good place and we’ll get it done.”

Brind'Amour's deal with the Hurricanes expires on July 1st. It would be very dangerous for the organization to leave him unsigned until then, especially with a plethora of HC jobs available across the NHL.

But for now, the focus is making a Cup run. Carolina will have it tough in the conference semifinals as they face the best team in the East in the regular season, the New York Rangers, who swept the Washington Capitals.

It will be nice to have both Tony DeAngelo and Brett Pesce healthy if they need the two, especially against a Rangers team with an electrifying offense.