Bruins’ Backes leaves game vs. Lightning after nasty cut to leg

Scary moment as David Backes leaves the ice after taking a skate to the knee. Backes held his right knee up as he skated back toward the Boston Bruins’ bench.

Boston Bruins forward David Backes left Saturday’s game under considerable duress after getting cut by the skate of Tampa Bay Lightning rookie Yanni Gourde.

Backes and Gourde were tangled up as they slid towards the Lightning net in the final minute of the first period with the Bruins leading 2-0. Gourde moved suddenly and his skate connected with Backes’s right leg, above the knee.

As Backes attempted to leave the ice, he glided on his left leg while keeping his right skate in the air to try and protect the visibly injured area.

Backes, 33, had 11 goals and 27 points in 49 games before Saturday’s contest. He scored Boston’s second goal on a power play before the injury.

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