A bone-jarring blow in an NHL game between the host Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals on Tuesday was eventually ruled a clean hit by an official review ― but that’s not the way the Senators coach appeared to see it.
Washington defenseman Jakob Chychrun pummeled Ottawa forward Nick Cousins as he attempted to control the puck, slamming Cousins airborne into the boards and onto the ice.
He appeared to be out cold and was eventually helped off the ice looking dazed, according to reports.
The hit went viral as viewers debated whether it merited punishment. Many sided with the refs’ final ruling, and some noted that Cousins should have kept his head up.
Ottawa coach Travis Green voiced his objection to the hit afterward.
“I’m a little surprised. You don’t usually see where it goes from a major penalty to no penalty,” Green told the Ottawa Citizen. “I thought it was a headshot to a player that wasn’t ready for it. They must have saw it different.”
As for Cousins’ condition, Green said, “He’s not doing great.”
Cousins was not taken to the hospital, the coach told TSN.
HuffPost has reached out to the Senators for an update.
“Obviously, you’re aware it’s part of the game, but it’s a lot more than the game of hockey, and it sucks seeing him like that,” Senators captain Thomas Chabot said afterward, per Sportsnet.
Washington won in overtime, 3-2.