One of Caps fans’ biggest fears when players head overseas for international competition after the NHL season is the very real threat of injury. We got a taste of that threat today when Evgeny Kuznetsov had to be helped off the ice during Russia’s match against Sweden in the IIHF World Championships underway in Moscow.
Kuzy went down after taking a shoulder to the head from Mikael Backlund, a Swedish center who plays for the Calgary Flames. Kuznetsov did not have the puck.
Kuznetsov needed help to get off the ice.
Oh dear…this doesn't look good. Evgeny Kuznetsov goes down in a heap, and he is being helped off the ice #IIHFWorlds #TeamRussia
— Russia Hockey (@russiahockey_en) May 17, 2016
To add insult to what looked like an injury, the Russians were penalized for a delay of game, and Backlund wasn’t penalized for the hit.
For delaying the play in order for Evgeny to get treatment, we have been punished with a penalty #IIHFWorlds #TeamRussia
— Russia Hockey (@russiahockey_en) May 17, 2016
Backlund just headshotted Kuznetsov in open ice. No call. Russia somehow is penalised?! #IIHFWorlds
— Patch (@Patchworkwords) May 17, 2016
But all’s well that ends well (I guess?). Kuznetsov returned to the game a few minutes later.
Here's some more good news – @Kuzya92 has been patched up, and is back in the action! #IIHFWorlds #TeamRussia
— Russia Hockey (@russiahockey_en) May 17, 2016
Let’s hope that’s the end of the injury scares for Caps fans during the Worlds. In addition to Kuznetsov, Caps Alex Ovechkin, Dmitry Orlov and Andre Burakovsky are playing for the respective nations in the tournament.
