Scary scene in Leafs/Blue Jackets game as period ends early due to player emergency
With less than a minute to play in the first period of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets game on Hockey Night in Canada, Blue Jackets forward Sean Kuraly took a hit from Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe on the forecheck and then got hit by a clearing attempt.
The hit appeared to leave Kuraly in distress as he was hunched over gliding to the Blue Jackets' bench. Once he got to the bench, he stood at the entrance to the tunnel for a brief moment before he looked to collapse. Immediately, the Blue Jackets bench attempted to get the attention of officials and grabbed the linesman at their bench to have play stopped and have the paramedics come across the ice.
With 18 seconds left, play was halted as paramedics rushed across the ice to aid Kuraly. The teams were sent to their respective dressing rooms with the remaining 18 seconds to be added to the start of the second period. Reports have indicated that it was precautionary and is currently still at the arena being evaluated.
Per the Blue Jackets, the team's reaction to bring the paramedics over was purely precautionary, as Kuraly seemed to be seriously injured at the time. The team has confirmed that Kuraly is in the process of being evaluated at the arena.
