Washington Capitals' Nick Jensen leaves game on stretcher after being shoved into boards
Washington Capitals defenseman Nick Jensen was taken off the ice on a stretcher during Saturday's game after being shoved into the boards by Tampa Bay Lightning forward Michael Eyssimont.
The incident happened with 1:31 left in the first period of the Capitals' 4-2 win after Jensen had moved the puck. He went hard into the boards, hit his head and wasn't moving after the collision.
Medical staff came out to attend to Jensen. After more than five minutes, he left the ice on a stretcher.
The Capitals later put out a statement saying, "Jensen is conscious, alert and has the use of all his extremities. He will continue to be monitored by the team’s medical personnel."
Capitals coach Spencer Carbery gave a postgame update on the "scary incident."
"He’s doing better," Carbery said. "He walked out of the building with his family tonight, didn’t go to the hospital, so that was very, very positive.”
A major penalty was called on Eyssimont to trigger a video review, and it was determined that no penalty would be called on the play.
The Capitals and Lightning went to the dressing room early and the remaining time was played after the teams came out after the first intermission. The score was tied 2-2.
Washington's Nic Dowd, who was Jensen's college teammate at St. Cloud State, fought with Eyssimont in the second period.
“When I see (Jensen) laying on the ice like that, it’s tough to see,” Dowd said. “He’s been a friend of mine for a long time. … I’m glad to know he’s doing better.”
Dowd scored the Capitals' final goal in the victory, which moved Washington into the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
"I think our team did a really, really good job of staying composed and pushing in that direction under really challenging circumstances," he said.