Canes' Trocheck played Game 5 with sprained MCL

Vincent Trocheck is a warrior.

The Carolina Hurricanes center admitted Thursday that he played through a sprained MCL in Game 5 of the second round against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

"It’s just the feeling that if the season was going to end, I didn’t want to be in the stands," he said, according to NHL.com's Michael Smith.

Trocheck suffered the injury in Game 2 of the series when he collided with teammate Warren Foegele.

The 27-year-old missed Games 3 and 4 but returned for Game 5, which ended up being Carolina's last of the season. The injury won't require offseason surgery, Trocheck added.

Trocheck recorded 43 points in 47 games during the regular season and added two goals and one assist in nine postseason contests.