In a game that is so fast-paced, the NHL often sees its fair share of injuries. From minor injuries like bruises to severe incidents like Clint Malarchuk's nightmare scenario; sometimes things just happen too fast to avoid them.
During the Columbus Blue Jackets/Carolina Hurricanes game on Saturday night, the NHL found itself in another terrifying situation with Pyotr Kochetkov.
In overtime, Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski was taking the puck toward the net when Hurricanes player Sean Walker tried to prevent a scoring chance. In doing so, he clipped his own goaltender Kochetkov as he tied up Werenski.
Kochetkov lay on the ice not moving, and there were serious concerns he was severely injured. Turns out Kochetkov was legitimately knocked out on the play and blacked out behind the net.
Trainers rushed over as the game ground to an immediate halt. The goaltender was able to make it off the ice with the assistance of medical staff and looked very shaken up from the whole thing.
Kochetkov's injury is a massive blow to the Hurricanes as he was enjoying a standout season. Posting a 10-2-0 record, to go along with a 2.42 GAA and .904 SV%. Kochetkov has shown why Carolina drafted him 36th overall in 2019.
He broke out last season with a 23-13-4 record while splitting time with Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta, a three-headed monster that led Carolina to a 111-point year, and got them to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals where they lost 4-2 to the New York Rangers.
His absence will lead the way for Andersen and Spencer Martin to get the bulk of the starts if Kochetkov is out for any period of time. No doubt GM Eric Tulsky will be looking to the market for goaltending help if he's out for any period of time, and it's an unfortunate turn of events for the young goalie.
Q1: What happened to Pyotr Kochetkov during the Columbus game?
Q2: Is Hurricanes Goalie Pyotr Kochetkov okay after the incident?
Q3: Has anything like this happened before in an NHL game?
POLL | ||
Do you think Pyotr Kochetkov is going to be injured long-term? | ||
Yes | 179 | 59.7 % |
No | 121 | 40.3 % |
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