The Chicago Blackhawks won the series, but lost a defenseman.
The team announced Friday that blueliner Michal Rozsival’s season is over after suffering a fractured left ankle that will require surgery in Game 4 on Thursday night. The gruesome injury occurred during the second period of the Blackhawks’ 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild.
Rozsival was attempting to skate backward to prevent a breakaway when he lost his balance and awkwardly fell to the ice with his ankle bending in a way it’s not supposed to bend.
Warning: The video is tough to watch.
The 36-year-old played in all 10 playoff games for Chicago this season and also was a member of the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup-winning team in 2013.
The Blackhawks swept the Wild to advance to the Western Conference finals for the third straight season.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@chicagotribune