Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov left Tuesday’s game against the Calgary Flames after taking a heavy and high open-ice hit from defenseman Mark Giordano.
The hit occurred late in the first period. Kucherov was about to accept a pass as he breaking through the neutral zone. While looking down for the puck in his feet, Kucherov was hit hard by Giordano, who was making his way back up the ice. Kucherov was not on the Tampa Bay bench to begin the second period, according to Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune.
Giordano dropped the gloves with J.T. Brown a few seconds later. There was no call on the hit.
Updated: Kucherov returned late in the second period.