Most of the media was in Washington Friday night to watch Alexander Ovechkin tie and pass Gordie Howe on the all-time goals list. Ovechkin scored twice including an empty-netter to pass Mr. Hockey, however, the milestone overshadowed a scary scene.
During the game, off of a faceoff in the Washington zone, Brandon Dillon took a slapshot that unfortunately got away from him. The puck was head-high before reaching the hash marks and caught Capitals defenceman John Carlson in the face. There was an immediate stop in play as everyone on the ice was concerned. Carlson skated to the bench under his own power, but left the game and the arena going straight to the hospital.
Due to the swelling, Carlson stayed in the hospital overnight for observation. He was released in the morning the following day. As the severity and extent of his injuries is still unknown, he will be out indefinitely.
