Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Zach Werenski was ruled out of a game against the Philadelphia Flyers after being on the receiving end of a knee-on-knee hit from Garnet Hathaway on Thursday.
Hathaway hit Werenski late in the second period behind the Blue Jackets net.
Teammates had to help Werenski get off the ice.
Hathaway received a minor penalty for kneeing after a video review.
After a 4-2 loss, Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent said it is not believed to be a long-term injury, per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.
Blue Jackets defenceman Erik Gudbranson ripped Hathway for the play.
“It was (expletive) dirty,” he said, per Portzline.
A two-time all-star, Werenski played only 13 games last season after suffering a serious shoulder injury early in the year.
The Blue Jackets picked Werenski eighth overall in the 2015 NHL Draft.
Meanwhile, Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Johansson exited in the third period of a game against the Florida Panthers after he was hit by Uvis Balinskis.
After the team’s 2-0 win, Wild coach Dean Evason said he had no update on Johansson.
The Wild acquired Johansson, 33, in a trade with the Washington Capitals last season. He had a combined 19 goals and 27 assists in 80 games last year.