The Carolina Hurricanes have been one of the best teams in the NHL all season. As the playoffs approach, they would like to be playing at their best, like any team. But that is going to be difficult without their starting goalie, Frederik Andersen. Andersen sustained a lower-body injury during the third period of Saturday's 7-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. He was extending his left leg to make a save and appeared to pull something.

Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour was asked about Andersen's status and whether or not the team was concerned in terms of his playoff availability. The Hurricanes' coach's answer should alert fans and players alike, as NHL.com's Kurt Dusterberg noted.

“It's a big concern,” coach Rod Brind'Amour said after practice Wednesday. “Goaltending is the most important part of the deal, so we're definitely concerned…  Give me a week and we can reassess… We've got to give it time to see where it's at.”

The Hurricanes are only 5-5 over their last 10 games. That has allowed the New York Rangers to tie them atop the Metropolitan Division with 106 points. Both teams have five games remaining in the regular season. Currently, the Hurricanes hold the tie-breaker over the Rangers.

Their division lead had looked like a lock not long ago.

Winning the division is very important for Carolina. If they are surpassed by New York, they will likely have to square off against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the NHL playoffs. That's no enviable task. Whereas, if they hold onto the Metropolitan Division, they will face one of the wild card teams.