Nick Jensen suffered a scary injury and had to be stretchered off during the first period of the Washington Capitals-Tampa Bay Lightning game, Saturday.
Jensen was shoved into the sideboards by Tampa Bay’s Michael Eyssimont after dumping the puck into the offensive zone. The veteran blueliner appeared to be knocked unconscious by the contact and could not move his limbs.
Warning: This video may be disturbing to some.
Medical staff immediately tended to Jensen as players surrounded the rearguard. Nearly 10 minutes after the hit, Jensen was carefully moved onto a stretcher and taken off the ice.
The on-ice officials called the first period to a close early. The additional 1:31 remaining in the stanza was added to the start of the second period.
Eyssimont was initially assessed a major penalty, but upon review, the hit was deemed legal by on-ice officials. The hit occurred between the two teams’ benches.
When the two teams returned onto the ice after intermission, Capitals PR announced that Jensen was “conscious, alert and has the use of all his extremities.”
#Caps defenseman Nick Jensen sustained an injury after a collision with Tampa Bay’s player Michael Eyssimont in the first period. Jensen is conscious, alert and has the use of all his extremities. He will continue to be monitored by the team’s medical personnel.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) April 13, 2024
There was a loud applause in Capital One Arena when the team put the update on the jumbotron midway through the second period.
Nic Dowd would avenge the hit by fighting Eyssimont 11:01 into the second period.
Jensen played 7:00 in the first period and had one shot on goal.
Our thoughts go out to Nick Jensen and his family during this difficult time.
9:05 pm update: Spencer Carbery said postgame that Jensen did not have to go to the hospital and that he walked out of the arena under his own power after the game.
