It’s been a night of iffy hits and injuries in the NHL. Earlier, Toronto’s Jake Muzzin was stretchered off the ice after taking a suspect cross-check from Pierre-Luc Dubois. Later, Winnipeg’s Mathieu Perreault left the Jets-Flames game after taking an iffy hit into the boards from Calgary forward Sam Bennett.
Halfway into the game, with the Jets trailing, Perreault seeks possession in front of the Calgary bench. Perreault overskates the puck and slows into a vulnerable position, but Bennett finishes his check anyway. Perreault falls into the boards, then writhes in pain. Teammate Cody Eakin eventually helps him off the ice.
#GoJetsGo Mathieu Perreault goes off the ice after this … pic.twitter.com/AaYlgC7z6M
— Here’s Your Replay ⬇️ (@TheReplayGuy) August 5, 2020
There was no penalty on the play, though Brian Burke mused that the league may seek supplementary discipline.
Brian Burke saying that he cannot understand why both refs missed calling a penalty on the hit on Mathieu Perreault.
Thinks the league will look into it.#NHLJets
— Illegal Curve Hockey (@IllegalCurve) August 5, 2020
Perreault attempted to skate before the third period but did not return to play.
INJURY UPDATE: #NHLJets forward Mathieu Perreault will not return to tonight’s game.
— Winnipeg Jets PR (@WpgJetsPR) August 5, 2020
Perreault scored seven goals and eight assists in a 48-game regular season, which was shortened by an upper-body injury he sustained in January. He is supposed to be off-limits.
The Jets are besieged by injuries. Mark Scheifele is out with a leg injury, Patrik Laine with a wrist, and Mason Appleton with an undisclosed condition. Earlier in the same game, defender Tucker Poolman was injured blocking a shot with his face but returned to finish the game in a bloodied full face shield.
After losing 6-2 to the Flames on Tuesday, the Jets now trail in the series two games to one.
