The Philadelphia Flyers largely did what they needed to in the first period of Wednesday’s game, but there was a troubling scene right before the intermission.
Capitals defenseman John Carlson knocked Scott Laughton near the end boards. The contact itself didn’t look vicious, but Laughton lost his footing and slid violently into the end boards before bouncing off. He lay face down behind the Capitals net.
Medics immobilized his neck and took him out of the game on a stretcher. The silver lining is that Laughton was conscious and able to use his hands.
There was no penalty on the play.
Laughton, 21, has been participating in his first postseason series. The Flyers announced that he has taken to Jefferson Hospital as a precaution. They plan to provide a further update as soon as they can.
Update: Laughton will remain in the hospital overnight for precautionary reasons, per the team’s Twitter feed. The tests Laughton has undergone have come back negative.
Wayne Simmonds, Alex Ovechkin standing side by side just a few feet from Scott Laughton as flat board being slid underneath him.
— Chuck Gormley (@CharlesAGormley) April 20, 2016
Entire lower bowl of fans on their feet in silence ... and now applause as Laughton placed on stretcher. #CapitalsTalk #FlyersTalk
— Chuck Gormley (@CharlesAGormley) April 20, 2016