Islanders Pageau Leaves (Then Somehow Returns) After Huge Hit By Ovechkin

The New York Islanders were riding high early Monday night against the Washington Capitals. After twenty minutes, New York was up 2-0 and padded their lead early in the third period to get up 3-0.

But then the Islanders then lost a player to injury, the all-important Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

With 13:25 left to play in the second period, Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin put all of his 238 pounds into a hit on New York Islanders forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

After the hit, Pageau got up but immediately fell to the ice as teammate Noah Dobson quickly grabbed him.

The trainers immediately came out on the ice as he was helped down the tunnel and did not return.

Ovechkin hit on Pageau pic.twitter.com/DDEZLhS7uA

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) January 17, 2023

During the television timeout, the referees came together to review the hit but deemed that there was no penalty on the play.

The Islanders went on to allow two goals in the middle frame in Pageau’s absence as they entered the third up 3-2.

But somehow, before the end of the second period, Pageau was back on the bench and back in the game.

The Islanders are still without forwards Kyle Palmieri (IR), Oliver Wahlstrom (out indefinitely), and defenseman Adam Pelech (IR), so it’s critical that they avoid another injury–which it looks like they did.

This story will be updated following the game.