With less than 30 seconds remaining in the second period, Erik Karlsson took a Matt Cooke's skate blade (inadvertant or deliberate depending on your mileage) to the back of his left leg. To this point, there's no update on his status and on the Interwebs, it's all speculation as to the severity of his injury. For what it's worth, he was helped off the ice and assisted back to the Senators' dressing room.
It's not the first time that Karlsson has been targetted by Cooke in that same location on the ice.
Everybody drink!
Update: 9:30 pm
Update on Karlsson: Erik suffered a laceration to his left achilles, which will require surgery to repair. He will be out indefinitely.
— Ottawa Senators (@NHL_Sens) February 14, 2013
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And the word from the good doctor:
Well there you go. Achilles lac requiring surgery. Karlsson likely done for the season. Sorry, Ottawa.
— Jo Innes (@JoNana) February 14, 2013
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This is big-time rehab. Range of motion, flexibility. Three months in a cast boot. Full activity in four (if you’re a regular person).
— Jo Innes (@JoNana) February 14, 2013
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Achilles injuries do come in varying degrees. Partial tear, complete tear. But surgery is surgery, and recovery will be a while.
— Jo Innes (@JoNana) February 14, 2013
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Most people do well w early treatment & good rehab. He could definitely be 100%. In six months or a year. 🙁
— Jo Innes (@JoNana) February 14, 2013
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Fantastic.
Here's Darren Dreger making an excellent point that is sure to bring a tear to many Sens fans:
As angry as the Sens might be with Cooke, a missed call on the puck hitting mesh out of play 12 seconds before Karlsson injury can't happen.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 14, 2013
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And GM Bryan Murray's take:
Murray: "It's Matt Cooke. What else should I say? Watch the replay."
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_Trib) February 14, 2013
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AP photographer Gene J. Puskar's haunting photo of the incident:
Think things are tense for Sens fans? The scene in Pittsburgh post-game:
Don't laugh about something 50 feet from Sens locker room (unrelated to game, by the way). Bryan Murray will tell you off. I just found out.
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_Trib) February 14, 2013
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Sounds like Josh just got Jim Fox'd.
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