In the third period of Thursday’s Caps-Canes game, Matt Niskanen was apparently injured in a boarding-like collision with Clark Bishop and Justin Williams.
It was an awful and scary hit, but Niskanen was able to walk off the ice on his own.
Watch it for yourself.
Video
There’s a bit of a shove. Niskanen isn’t fully able to brace himself, so much of the impact is upon his neck and chest.
He was in tremendous pain afterwards.
Here’s another look.
Afterwards, Niskanen laid prone on the ice as trainers tended to him. Capital One Arena was silent, but Niskanen remained conscious and eventually skated off the ice under his own power.
There was no penalty on the play.
Capitals head coach Todd Reirden had no update after the game, but was flummoxed there was no penalty on the play.
“That’s a dangerous play that they’re trying to eliminate in the game today. It was tough to watch,” Reirden said. “It’s not listed as a penalty on the sheet here so it’s not a penalty.”
