Rangers’ Fast leaves game vs. Hurricanes after Skjei hit

The first big hit of the play-in rounds as Brady Skjei lines up Jesper Fast in the neutral zone and throws his weight into him shoulder-to-shoulder with a huge open ice hit.

New York Rangers forward Jesper Fast left Game 1 of the team’s Stanley Cup Qualifiers series against the Carolina Hurricanes and is not expected to return.

Early in the first period, Fast was on the receiving end of a hit from Hurricanes defenceman and former teammate Brady Skjei in the neutral zone. Fast was slow to get up from the hit and was noticeably shaken in the moments afterward before eventually leaving for the Rangers locker room.

In 69 games for the Rangers this season, the 28-year-old Swede racked up 12 goals and 29 points while averaging 16:36 of ice time.

Game 2 between the Rangers and the Hurricanes goes Monday at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT.

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