A scary scene unfolded in the first period between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the visiting Boston Bruins on Saturday night.
David Backes and Yanni Gourde came together in the Lightning crease, with Gourde’s skate appearing to cut Backes on the outside of his right leg.
Backes was able to make his way to the Bruins bench on his own, but he was clutching the back of his leg before getting some help down the tunnel.
Backes did not return to the game.
The Bruins said that Backes suffered a laceration above his right knee, which required several stitches to close.
Krug on 98.5 radio re: Backes laceration: "Scary man. Any time you see a cut like and a lot of blood--it's a scary thing."
— Kevin Paul Dupont (@GlobeKPD) March 18, 2018
No structural damage for David Backes, who walked out of Amalie Arena with a limp. Just a deep cut. He said with a smile: "I'll play a second period one of these days"
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) March 18, 2018
Scott Billeck is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @scottbilleck