The first period of Wednesday’s Game 7 between the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning included a scary incident that could have turned out a lot worse.
But thanks to some solid fundamentals by Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly, serious injury was avoided.
Smith-Pelly laid down to block a shot early in the do-or-die Eastern Conference Final contest and took a shot from Ryan McDonagh to the back of the neck.
“Watch him turn his head kids,” Don Cherry said during his Coach’s Corner segment on Wednesday night. “[If] he doesn’t turn his head, you know where he gets this one. Right on the chin.”
Smith headed straight to the locker-room but returned to the Washington bench later in the first period.
“Remember, if you have to block shots — the most dangerous thing in hockey — you turn your head.”
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