The New York Rangers enjoyed a seven-round, shootout win over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday night. However, the team apprehensively awaits the status of forward Sammy Blais, who suffered an apparent lower-body injury at the hands of P.K. Subban.
When Chris Kreider scored the game-winning shootout goal Sunday night the joy raised the roof of the Garden. That was quickly transformed to concern for forward Sammy Blais.
Sammy Blais injured in win
Blais, 25, is having a solid debut season with the Rangers. His strong board play, and physical presence to go with good playmaking skills earned him a shot at the top line with Mika Zibanejad and Kreider.
That opportunity could now be put on a long hold.
Blais was forced out of the game early in the third period when he skated into the right corner of the Devils net. He was hit by what could be called a slew foot from Devils’ defenseman P.K. Subban. He went down awkwardly and could be heard yelling in pain on the ice.
Blais was unable to put any weight on his right leg as he was helped off the ice. There was no penalty called on the play and the Department of Player Safety has yet to say anything.
Blais injury looked eerily similar to Subban slew foot on Reaves
This play was very close to the same play when the Devils visited the Rangers in a preseason game in October. In that incident, Subban slew-footed Ryan Reaves. Head coach Gerard Gallant mentioned that play while discussing the Blais injury during his post-game presser.
“A lot like the [Ryan] Reaves one that I saw,” he said, referring to the preseason game against New Jersey in which Subban swept Reaves’ right skate out from under him and caused his left knee to buckle awkwardly.
The concerning point of last night’s injury, no one stood up for Blais following the hit. The Rangers have been called a “soft” team over recent seasons. Ryan Reaves was brought in to help balance the scales when it comes to players getting hit on questionable plays, but last looked a lot like last season.
There are times when statements need to be made during a game but last night no statement, no reaction, and no doubt was out into the minds of the Devils players after that play.
Today the Rangers wait for two announcements.
- How much time will Sammy Blais miss due to an LBI.
- Will NHL Player Safety do anything about this nasty infraction.
This is not the first time Subban has been accused of a slew-foot play. Rangers fans hope this time round he gets more than a fine as punsihment.
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