NEW YORK — Tampa Bay defenseman Mikhail Sergachev needed to go away the ice on a stretcher after his left leg bent at an ungainly angle seven minutes into the second interval of the Lightning’s recreation in opposition to the New York Rangers on Wednesday night time.
The 25-year-old defenseman grabbed his left knee as he went down alongside the boards within the Lightning’s finish of the ice. Sergachev grew to become tangled with Rangers ahead Alexis Lafreniere after Lafreniere tried a reverse hit on the approaching Tampa Bay participant. Sergachev’s left skate appeared to stay within the ice as his knee twisted at an unnatural angle.
Sergachev had returned Wednesday after lacking the earlier 17 video games with a leg damage suffered in December. The Lightning declared Sergachev out for the sport with a lower-body damage earlier than the second interval concluded. There was no additional data on his situation after the sport.
“Tremendous robust. Sergei in his first recreation again to see him in such ache,” Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman mentioned. “You pray for the perfect, however clearly it is not trying nice.”
Your entire Lightning workforce left the bench to assemble round their injured defenseman. Gamers from each groups additionally went over to Sergachev as he left the ice on a rolling stretcher. Sergachev appeared be in tears as he held his jersey near his face whereas sitting on the stretcher. He gave a thumbs-up to the Madison Sq. Backyard crowd.
“Ultimately, you’ve got bought your loved ones, your organic household, however these are the individuals you spend just about your entire life with,” mentioned Lightning coach Jon Cooper, who left his bench to talk with Sergachev as he was taken from the ice. “He is a very robust child. Feelings have been popping out. It was clear the Rangers cared for him. All of them cleared the bench. It is greater than hockey.”
Cooper would not speculate if Sergachev’s damage could possibly be season-ending.
“Let’s not assume that method,” Cooper mentioned.
The Russian defenseman is in his seventh season with the Lightning. He has performed 475 profession video games, together with 4 contests with the Montreal Canadiens, who chosen him ninth general within the 2016 NHL draft.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
