Oilers’ Nail Yakupov injured in collision with official

Nail Yakupov had to leave the game after Matt MacPherson hauled him down trying to keep balance during a face off.

Edmonton Oilers forward Nail Yakupov‘s night got off to a great start when he recorded the 100th point of his career with an assist on Benoit Pouliot’s fifth goal of the season to open the scoring versus the Carolina Hurricanes.

But Yakupov’s evening took a turn for the worse early in the second period when he was injured on a face-off at centre ice.

Linesman Matt MacPherson bumped into Yakupov, stumbled, and dragged down the 22-year-old winger as he attempted to brace his fall. Yakupov appeared to be favouring his left leg as he left the ice.

Yakupov, who has not scored a goal in 15 games, earned an assist on a goal initially awarded to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Credit was given to Pouliot during the first intermission.

The Oilers are already without 2015 first overall pick Connor McDavid, who is recovering from a broken clavicle. Sportsnet analyst Nick Kypreos reports that early indications point to Yakupov’s injury not being too serious.

Yakupov has two goals and 12 points in 22 games this season.

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