Bruins’ David Backes knocked out of game after hit from Ducks’ Nick Ritchie

Watch as Nick Ritchie floors David Backes with a shoulder-to-shoulder hit.

Boston Bruins forward David Backes had to leave Tuesday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks after taking a hard hit from Nick Ritchie.

The hit came with just over five minutes remaining in Anaheim’s win, and… was maybe kind of late?

Backes wasn’t even the only Bruin to get hurt in the contest. Rookie forward Anders Bjork left with an upper-body injury and will “miss some time” according to coach Bruce Cassidy.

Ritchie has been suspended before, sitting out two games for roughing Michal Rozsival last April.

It does look like Backes’ shoulder was the principal point of contact for Ritchie’s hit, so we’ll have to wait and see how the department of player safety feels regarding how much time passed between Backes losing the puck and Ritchie stepping in.

The 33-year-old Backes missed time with a concussion last season after taking a high hit from then-Buffalo Sabre William Carrier.

The Bruins did not provide an update on Backes’ condition after the game.

He has eight goals and 19 assists in 31 games this season.

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