James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

After losing to the New York Rangers in a shootout the day before, the Carolina Hurricanes knew their game against the Florida Panthers would be crucial to the season. Unfortunately for them, their defense was struck down by injuries the entire game. At one point in the game, the Hurricanes only had three defensemen available with two injured and one in the box. They fought hard, but in the end the team was dealt their fourth loss in a row.

Bobby Sanguinetti was the first to go down in the first period. After a nice pinch from the blue line, Sanguinetti fell down and caught a skate blade to the face. He was quickly rushed off the ice and sent to the medical room. Luckily, he was able to rejoin the game with a large stitched up cut above his mouth. Injuries like that are extremely scary, and it was a huge relief to watch him come back so quickly.

Canes young gun Justin Faulk was also forced to leave the game in the second period. Faulk took a check to the leg behind the net and skated off the ice limping in pain. If Faulk is out for a long period of time, the Hurricanes will miss his fantastic two-way ability. He is arguably the team’s best overall defenseman and is used in every situation.

If the other injuries weren’t bad enough, Tim Gleason was also taken out during the second period. After delivering a check behind the Hurricanes net, Gleason took a stick to the face that drew blood. Fortunately, he managed to return by the third period after getting stitched up

With half of the Canes defense in and out of the medical room, Dan Ellis put the team on his back for two periods. Ellis was absolutely incredible holding a shutout through two periods, but the team fell apart in the third period, and Ellis was unable to come out with the win.