Columbus Blue Jackets’ Sean Kuraly collapses behind bench, leaves game with abdominal injury
During the Blue Jackets’ game on Saturday night at Nationwide Arena, forward Sean Kuraly left the game due to an abdominal injury that caused him to collapse behind the team’s bench and brought an early end to the first period.
The Blue Jackets issued an update during the second intermission, stating that Kuraly will be further evaluated at nearby Grant Medical Center for the injury, which occurred behind the Toronto Maple Leafs’ bench near the end of the first period.
While the injury does not appear to be serious at this time, Kuraly will be taken to Grant Medical Center for further evaluation, according to Blue Jackets chief spokesman Todd Sharrock.
Kuraly, a 30-year-old from Dublin, Ohio, was hit in the abdomen by a stick while forechecking during a battle along the end wall with Auston Matthews and Jake McCabe. After hunching over on the ice and grabbing his abdomen, Kuraly collapsed once reaching the bench and needed assistance to make it to the locker room.
The game was stopped with 18.3 seconds left in the first period, and the Maple Leafs leading 1-0. The time was added to the start of the second period.
Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent described the moment as “scary,” and defenseman Erik Gudbranson said the first moments of the intermission were intense, but once they received confirmation that Kuraly was okay, they were able to reset and continue playing.
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