It was a simple icing touch up. One that happens close to 10 times a game, but this one went so horribly wrong for the Carolina Hurricanes.
Defenseman Joni Pitkanen was in a race with the Washington Capital’s Troy Brouwer, in a close 4-3 game, to touch the puck first. Brouwer got his stick caught in the Finnish defenseman’s skates and while most likely not on purpose, it caused Pitkanen to go awkwardly into the end boards.
The next moments featured Pitkanen writhing in pain on the ice before a stretcher had to be brought out to take him into the dressing room.
