In a quick play, Vegas forward Tomas Hertl fired a puck towards the net while Stecher was there battling for body position. The puck caught Stecher in the ear, and he went down hard right away.
Vegas forward Keegan Kolesar was standing right next to Stecher, and immediately called to the bench for a trainer. The arena even audibly gasped, and it sounded like a player on the ice said «Oh my god».
Stecher got up quickly and made a beeline to the bench, and did not return for the remainder of the third period.
After the game, Coach Knoblauch provided a positive update on Stecher, sounding like he will be available next game and was held out only for precautionary measures.
It's great news that Stecher is okay. Anytime a player takes a puck up high and scurries off the ice in pain like that, it's always a horrible sight. If it was a playoff game though, he may have even come back to the game.
Troy Stecher has been an underrated piece of the Oilers this year contributing to a blue line that's weaker than ideal, but overperforming what was expected. The Oilers have great value in Stecher as a 500+ game veteran for just above league minimum for two seasons.
Unfortunately, the Oilers dropped their game last night to Vegas being shut out 1-0. Last night's loss wasn't on the team's weaknesses in defence and goaltending - it was their scoring. Still, the Oilers matched up well in a litmus test game against a cup contending Vegas team.
POLL | ||
Did you think this injury to Troy Stecher would be worse for him and the Edmonton Oilers? | ||