With eight minutes left in the first period in Thursday’s night game against the Buffalo Sabres, Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh left the game after being driven into the boards by Buffalo’s Jack Eichel and did not return for the start of the second period.
The Lightning were killing a penalty when the puck found itself in the corner. McDonagh was on the perimeter of the play and a few feet from the boards when Eichel checked him from behind. The momentum from the shove caused the defender to fall awkwardly into the boards and he was slow to get back to his skates as a scrum developed around him.