Canada’s Alexis Lafreniere leaves game vs. Russia with injury

Canada's Alexis Lafreniere celebrates after scoring against the United States. (Petr David Josek/AP)

Team Canada forward Alexis Lafreniere left during the second period of Saturday’s game against Russia with an apparent lower-body injury.

At the 18:24 mark of the second period, while Canada was on the power play, Lafreniere went down after driving hard to the net. His left knee appeared to collide with the pad of Russian goalie Amir Miftakhov, after which Lafreniere laid on the ice in pain.

Lafreniere made his way off the ice and to the locker room with assistance. He wasn’t putting any weight on his left leg.

The 18-year-old is widely considered the No. 1 prospect eligible for the 2020 NHL draft. The Quebec native has 70 points in 32 games with QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic this year.

Canada was trailing Russia, 3-0, when Lafreniere exited the game. The Russians scored again less than a minute later.

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