The Minnesota Wild lost their captain on a dangerous play Tuesday against the Nashville Predators.
Jared Spurgeon was forced to leave the game in the second period after falling into the boards due to a slew foot from Predators rookie Zachary L'Heureux.
The play came less than four minutes into the middle frame, as the two skated into the corner before L'Heureux kicked Spurgeon's legs out from under him. The 35-year-old's right leg was contorted into an awkward position as he collided with the boards.
Minnesota ruled Spurgeon out for the rest of the game with a lower-body injury shortly after the third period began.
Spurgeon stayed down on the ice and wasn't able to put any weight on his leg while heading back to the Minnesota locker room.
L'Heureux was assessed a match penalty on the play. In the aftermath of the hit, the Wild took exception, with teammate Yakov Trenin coming in to try and fight the Predators forward.
Trenin was handed a two-minute minor for roughing.
After playing at 4-on-4 for two minutes, the Wild capitalized on their man advantage, scoring to tie the game at two.
Entering Tuesday's game, Spurgeon had four goals and 13 points in 31 games for the 22-11-4 Wild. He had recorded just under eight minutes of ice time Tuesday before being injured.
L'Heureux, 21, was selected 27th overall in the 2021 draft by Nashville, and has totalled four goals and nine points in his rookie season. The Halifax Mooseheads product had no shortage of controversy in his career, even before reaching the NHL, as he was suspended nine times in the QMJHL and twice in the AHL.
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