Injury causes Sean Kuraly to collapse behind Columbus Blue Jackets' bench

Sean Kuraly left the Columbus Blue Jackets’ game Saturday night at Nationwide Arena with an abdominal injury that caused him to collapse behind the team's bench and brought a premature end to the first period.

The Blue Jackets issued an update during the second intermission on X/Twitter saying the veteran forward will be further evaluated at nearby Grant Medical Center for an abdominal injury that occurred behind the Toronto Maple Leafs' bench near the end of the first period.

"Sean Kuraly suffered an abdominal injury," Blue Jackets chief spokesman Todd Sharrock said. "While his injury does not appear to be serious at this time, he will be taken to Grant Medical Center for further evaluation."

Kuraly, 30, was forechecking when he was hit by defenseman Jake McCabe while battling along the end wall with Auston Matthews. McCabe's left shoulder contacted Kuraly's head and jostled his helmet, but the injury occurred when a stick struck the Blue Jackets' forward in the abdomen.

Kuraly left the ice with less than a minute left in the period and hunched over while grabbing his abdomen. Once reaching the bench, he bent to a knee before being assisted to the tunnel leading to the Jackets’ locker room.

After a few moments hunched over, Kuraly collapsed and needed assistance to make it to the locker room. Blue Jackets players immediately began shouting at officials to stop the game and a white towel was thrown into the air to get their attention. Once play was stopped, a paramedic came onto the ice from the Zamboni entrance and headed toward the Blue Jackets’ bench.

"I was told that everything should be fine, but they're checking to make sure everything is OK," Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent said. "It was a scary moment. You know what happened, the hit and then he came back to the bench, (but) then what happened in the hallway, I don't know. I just saw the trainers and the medical staff, and it was urgent. It's not fun. You don't want to see that." 

The period was halted with 18.3 seconds left and the Maple Leafs leading 1-0.

That time was added to the start of the second period, but Kuraly's health was of much greater concern inside the Blue Jackets' dressing room.

"You have no idea what's going on, but when somebody waves that towel, you hope they get to him quick," Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson said. "The first little bit (during intermission) was intense, but once we got that word (he was OK), you reset and you go out and play."