Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev was taken off the ice on a stretcher throughout Wednesday night time’s sport towards the New York Rangers after sustaining an obvious leg damage following a collision on the ice.
The heartbreaking damage got here throughout Sergachev’s first sport again after lacking 17 video games with a earlier leg damage sustained on Dec. 17.
“Tremendous robust. Sergei in his first sport again to see him in such ache,″ Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman stated. “You pray for one of the best, however clearly it’s not wanting nice.”
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The incident got here practically midway via the second interval, when Rangers ahead Alexis Lafreniere tried a reverse hit on Sergachev, who was approaching him close to the boards.
The 25-year-old went down in ache after his left knee appeared to bend at a clumsy angle.
“You’re feeling sick to your abdomen,” Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos stated within the locker room after the sport. “Clearly, Sergei’s put in lots of effort and time to return again from his authentic damage after which to see one thing fairly traumatic like that occur is – from somebody who’s been via that – it’s robust to look at.”
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Gamers from each groups left their benches to encompass Sergachev as he was taken off the ice.
Sergachev shared a message with followers on Instagram early Thursday morning sharing his devastation, however added that he’ll “come again stronger.”
“Oh man, why me? Why now? After all of the video games missed, coming again and getting injured once more, feels unfair, feels horrible. Attempting to remain calm and optimistic, nevertheless it’s not possible,” he wrote in his submit.
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“After doing all the things proper I get this. The universe is unpredictable I assume, and has its personal plans, however f— the universe man, I do know I am going to come again stronger and I do know I am going to play higher than earlier than, nevertheless it’s robust proper now, and it is gonna be robust tomorrow. All of us struggle our personal battles and that is mine. I am going to win, all the time do.”
Lightning head coach Jon Cooper referred to as the damage “horrible,” however wouldn’t say if the damage could be season-ending.
“I don’t know, let’s not suppose that method.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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