The Montreal Canadiens have placed Jonathan Drouin on injured reserve after he sustained an upper-body injury on Friday against the Washington Capitals.
Drouin was absolutely steamrolled by a speeding 236-pound Alexander Ovechkin midway through the game, and subsequently left the ice.
SMOKED. pic.twitter.com/9eMP5QD0K3
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) November 16, 2019
Drouin returned to the game after undergoing concussion protocol and played another six shifts in the third. Somewhere within that period, he sustained the more serious injury and has since been placed on injured reserve.
The Canadiens say Jonathan Drouin went into concussion protocol following the second-period Ovechkin hit and was cleared. They add he sustained his injury in the third period of last night’s game and that it’s unrelated to being hit by Ovechkin.
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) November 16, 2019
After a slow start, Drouin found his groove offensively and is sitting at seven goals and 15 points in 19 games this season.
After the game, Ovechkin defended his hit on Drouin saying “it’s hockey... it’s not a ballet.” Facts.
Ovi on his hit on Drouin:
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) November 16, 2019
"It's hockey... it's not a ballet." pic.twitter.com/6pblNCBijD
Forward Charles Hudon has been recalled from the AHL's Laval Rocket to take Drouin’s place on the roster.
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