The Capitals leading scorer, Evgeny Kuznetsov, was injured in the third period and it was, in a word, horrifying.
After the Minnesota Wild scored a power play goal on a power play that should not have been a power play, Evgeny Kuznetsov and the gang took to center ice for the face off. Kuzy fought for possession of the puck with the Wild’s Mikael Granlund but inevitably lost when he was struck in the face with the butt-end of Granlund’s stick. Kuzy fell to the ground and clutched his nose and mouth in pain.
Just look at how awful that is.
Kuznetsov stayed down on the ice for several seconds before head trainer Greg Smith came out to check on him. Kuzy made it off the ice with minimal help, but still seemed to be in an extreme amount of discomfort when he headed down toward the locker room.
#Caps Evgeny Kuznetsov will not return to tonight's game. He will be re-evaluated tomorrow.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) February 12, 2016
After the game, coach Barry Trotz told reporters he had no new information. “He’s being evaluated,” Trotz said. “He didn’t come back. I haven’t talked to the trainers yet so I have no idea.”
@CapitalsPRpic.twitter.com/5eJBcaHxyp
— Stephen (@sassy_aardvark) February 12, 2016
I think we can all relate to Stephen right now and only hope that our Russian hero (sorry, Ovi) gets better soon.
FWIW, spotted Kuznetsov walking around in locker room while dodging tape balls being launched at Schmidt. Burakovsky gave him a tap.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) February 12, 2016
Additional reporting by Ian Oland.
