NHL linesman Brad Kovachik found himself in the line of fire during Monday’s Stanley Cup playoff game.
As Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos laid a hip check on New York Rangers defenseman Kevin Klein in the second period, Klein went flying into the boards — and directly into Kovachik.
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The ref went down in a heap and needed to be helped off the Madison Square Garden ice by team personnel. Backup linesman Greg Devorski replaced him.
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Thanks to a Tyler Johnson hat trick, the Lightning went on to win 6-2 and even the Eastern Conference Final at one game apiece.
Thumbnail photo via Eric Bolte/USA TODAY Sports Images
