Washington Capitals defenseman Nick Jensen was taken off the ice on a stretcher during the first period after being hit by Tampa Bay Lightning forward Michael Eyssimont.
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- Nick Jensen was taken off the ice on a stretcher after a hit by Michael Eyssimont, with no penalties assessed.
- Capitals Coach Spencer Carbery confirmed Jensen is doing better, avoiding hospitalization, and walked out with his family.
- Jensen will miss the final two regular-season games; defenseman Dylan McIlrath has been recalled from AHL Hershey.
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On-field Incident and Medical Response
During the Washington Capitals’ victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Capital One Arena, defenseman Nick Jensen was severely hit by Lightning forward Michael Eyssimont.
This incident happened at 18:29 of the first period when Jensen tried to dump the puck into the offensive zone.
The impact sent Jensen hard into the boards at center ice, but no immediate penalties were called against Eyssimont.
Michael Eyssimont with a late hit on Nick Jensen that appeared to leave him unconscious.
Nick Jensen had to be stretchered off the ice and the period was ended with 1:31 on the clock. pic.twitter.com/bCWdxrOl11
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 13, 2024
Capitals Coach Spencer Carbery described the event as a “scary situation” but observed that Jensen was “doing better” than expected after such severe incidents.
Medical Response and Team Reaction
The Capitals’ medical staff, led by Jason Serbus and Dr. Elizabeth Delasobera, quickly attended to Jensen, who needed about five minutes of treatment on the ice.
Their efficient response ensured Jensen was safely stretchered off and eventually walked out of the arena without needing to visit the hospital.
The game was paused, and teams were sent to the locker rooms. The remaining 1:31 of the first period continued after the intermission. Coach Carbery later updated that Jensen did not require hospitalization and could leave the arena with his family, which he described as very positive.
“He was in the facility today, so that was positive. Really good to see him able to leave and not have to go to the hospital and was able to go home and stay at his house last night. Everything was good from that standpoint.” Carbery said.
Impact on Team Roster and Playoff Preparations
Following the incident, the Capitals have made adjustments to their lineup. Coach Carbery confirmed that Jensen would not participate in the upcoming final two regular-season games.
Defenseman Dylan McIlrath was recalled from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League to fill the gap.
The Capitals are set to host the Boston Bruins next on Monday (7 p.m. ET; MNMT, NHLN, NESN).
However, the injury means Jensen will miss the remaining two regular-season games. His absence is a significant blow to the team, considering his contribution of 14 points from 77 games this season.
Reactions to Jensen’s Injury: Perspectives from Both Teams
Jon Cooper, the coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning who previously mentored Jensen, shared his concerns and hopes for Jensen’s rapid recovery. He noted the challenge of witnessing such incidents in hockey, particularly when they occur without any penalties being called.
“Yeah, it’s tough to see anybody, but he’s a special kid for me. We won a championship in the USHL together. He’s awesome. Those are tough ones to see, especially because of the result of the hit and it wasn’t penalized, nor should it have been. It was just a tough one all the way around. I’m hoping he’s OK. I heard he’s doing OK, and so hopefully he’s not out after tonight.” said Lightning coach Jon Cooper.
The Capitals and their supporters hope Jensen will recover swiftly and thoroughly as the team gears up for the critical playoff games ahead.
