Just past midway through the second period, Lightning forward Steven Stamkos took a bad fall, slid into the Lightning goal post and was injured. From all indications, this one looks pretty serious, but obviously details are scarce at the moment. From first appearances, Stamkos’s right shin took the brunt of the impact, and it looks like a fracture is possible.
There’s a .gif of the hit circulating on the internet, but it’s pretty gruesome and I’m not going to post it openly. If you want to take a look, it can be found here. And if you want more than that, TSN has the video up already. And so does ProHockeyTalk (that one’s not on autoplay if you’re squeamish like me).
Reports by the broadcast team and on twitter say that Stamkos has been taken to an area hospital for X-rays. As soon as we know anything more, we’ll update.
But as if that wasn’t a bad enough blow, just minutes later, Sami Salo also had an apparent injury…
Sami Salo injured leg & slow trip back to Tampa bench opens up ice for Marchand to create 1st goal. Salo needs help back to dressing room
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) November 11, 2013
…and Keith Aulie didn’t come out in the third period, either.
#tblightning bench now 3 players short . Stamkos obvioulsy, but Salo and Aulie also missing
— Erik Erlendsson (@erlendssonTBO) November 11, 2013
*****
[3:20 p.m. ET] According to the SunSports broadcast team, Salo has a lower body injury and Aulie is doubtful to return to the game with an upper body injury.
[3:55 p.m.] Report from Aaron Ward is that this is as bad as it looked. (This has not been confirmed by the team.)
Source, Steven Stamkos has broken tibia. Told will require surgery. #TSN
— Aaron Ward (@aaronward_nhl) November 11, 2013
[4:43 p.m. ET] no confirmation of surgery, however
#tblightning confirm a broken right tibia, out indefinitely on Stamkos injury
— Erik Erlendsson (@erlendssonTBO) November 11, 2013
[6:04 p.m. ET–FINAL UPDATE] The team has sent their official statement, confirming the worst news for Lightning fans.:
“At this point Steven will be out indefinitely,” Yzerman said. “The medical staff in Boston, in consultation with our team physicians, has made the decision to surgically repair the injury. The procedure is expected to take place tomorrow morning. The biggest concern for me, and the rest of the Lightning, is that decisions are made in Steven’s best long-term interest, and we feel this is the appropriate course of action.”
As all his fans do, we here at Raw Charge send Steven our best wishes. Take care of yourself. Get better and come back strong.
