CHICAGO (AP) — Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield has been ruled out for Thursday night’s game at Chicago because of a lower-body injury.

Chatfield took just two shifts in the third period of Tuesday night’s 6-5 overtime victory over Boston. He has two goals and a career-high 15 assists in 71 games this season.

“You’re always concerned when guys are missing,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “I hope it’s not anything that’s going to drag on, but put it this way, he’s not 100 percent so he’s not playing.”

The Hurricanes clinched the Metropolitan Division title with their win against the Bruins. They were on top of the Eastern Conference going into Thursday’s action, two points ahead of the Buffalo Sabres.

The Hurricanes recalled defenseman Charles Alexis Legault and forwards Skyler Brind’Amour, Bradly Nadeau and Josiah Slavin from their American Hockey League affiliate on Wednesday.

Carolina did not have a morning skate on Thursday, so Rod Brind’Amour wasn’t sure about his lineup going into the matchup with the Blackhawks. But he said at least three of the players brought up from the minors were expected to play.

“We got a couple guys (that) got nicked up the other night. … We’re literally a game-time decision, but they’ll be significant players that’ll be sitting out,” Rod Brind’Amour said.

Skyler Brind’Amour is the coach’s son, and Slavin is the younger brother of Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin. Skyler Brind’Amour scored a goal in two games with the Hurricanes last April, and Josiah Slavin had an assist in 15 games with the Blackhawks during the 2021-22 season in his only previous NHL action.

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