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Patrik Laine injured, leaves game after massive open ice hit

Winnipeg Jets v Philadelphia Flyers

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 17: Patrik Laine #29 of the Winnipeg Jets skates against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 17, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Flyers defeated the Jets 5-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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This is not what the Winnipeg Jets want to see.

Midway through the third period of their game against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon, rookie sensation Patrik Laine had to leave the game after he was shaken up by a massive open ice hit from defenseman Jake McCabe.

It happened just as Laine was accepting a pass coming through the neutral zone and McCabe had a clean shot to step into him.

Have a look.

Lained remained down on the ice for a while and struggled to get up before eventually heading to the locker room.

Jets coach Paul Maurice had no update on Laine’s status after the game.

The result is definitely scary and absolutely stinks for Laine and the Jets, but there doesn’t seem to be anything illegal about that hit. It certainly wasn’t late and McCabe didn’t seem to target the head.

Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele ended up getting a two-minute minor for roughing for trying to go after McCabe following the hit.

Laine, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft right behind Auston Matthews, has been one of the league’s most exciting players this season and entered play on Saturday, his 42nd game of the season, with 21 goals which put him in a three-way tie for second (behind Sidney Crosby’s 26 goals) with Matthews and Jeff Carter.