NHL All-Star Game MVP Brock Boeser suffered a scary injury late in Vancouver’s 4-3 overtime win over the New York Islanders.
In the closing seconds of the third period, the talented rookie forward attempted a hip check on Cal Clutterbuck. The checking-line forward saw the telegraphed hit coming and delivered a counter hit of his own, sending the leading rookie goal scorer crashing into the open bench door.
Boeser remained on the ice for over two minutes clutching the bottom of his back in pain.
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The bench door was open because Boeser’s teammate, Jake Virtanen, was leaving the ice for a shift change.
Boeser, in pain, struggled to get off the playing surface. As he made his way onto the bench, he struggled to put any weight on his left leg and had to be assisted into the dressing room by a trainer.
After the game according to The Athletic’s Arthur Staple, the 21-year-old forward was stretchered out of Rogers Arena and taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Brock Boeser taken out of arena on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) March 6, 2018
Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre reported that Boeser’s teammates were very concerned.
#Canucks/security closed off hallway so Boeser could be stretchered out post-game. Ambulance ride rarely ends in good news, but no word yet from team. Lots of concern from teammates.
— Iain MacIntyre (@imacSportsnet) March 6, 2018
Canucks head coach Travis Green would only say that Boeser was taken to the hospital for “precautionary reasons.”
No update from Coach Green on Boeser, "just that he was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons."
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) March 6, 2018
The fresh-faced Boeser has been one of the best stories of the NHL this season. His 29 goals leads all rookies and his 55 points ranks second only to the Islanders Matthew Barzal.
Update 3/6:
Source on Boeser injury : "Not career-threatening and not a serious injury but can't see him playing again this season. Best to shut him down, there will be a few weeks of discomfort." #Canucks
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) March 6, 2018
Update 3/7:
Injury update on Boeser, who will make a full recovery in 4-6 weeks. pic.twitter.com/BYaWlbTfAM
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) March 6, 2018
