Russian striker Tampa Bay Nikita Kucherov was injured in the third period of Saturday's match against Washington (2-1 OT) and was unable to continue the game.
The hockey player collided in a foreign zone with Capitals striker Garneth Hetheway and barely made it to the bench, holding his hand in his lower abdomen, and then went into the locker room.
– We need to figure it out. I am not a doctor. I haven't even seen the episode replay on TV, so I can't tell you what happened to it. He will be examined when we return home. He is a tough guy, I hope nothing serious happened to him. But it’s too early to tell what happened, ”said Tampa coach John Cooper.
Team captain Steven Stamkos said the injury “doesn't look good .”
“We pray that he will be all right,” Stamkos said.
On Saturday, Kucherov spent 17:26 on the court, making one shot on target.
In two games this season, the Russian scored four (1 + 3) points. He missed the entire regular season while recovering from hip surgery last December. Kucherov returned to the 2021 playoffs and scored 32 (8 goals, 24 assists) in 23 matches, becoming a two-time Stanley Cup winner.
- Washington lost to Tampa in overtime, Ovechkin scored third goal of the season