Iorio Leaves Capitals-Rangers After Being Hit Into Boards By Lafreniere

The Washington Capitals have lost a key defenseman and are again shorthanded on the blue line, as Vincent Iorio has left Game 1 against the New York Rangers with an upper-body injury following a heavy hit.

Iorio was trying to skate the puck out of the defensive zone when he was hit from behind into the boards by Alexis Lafreniere.

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The 21-year-old went down in visible pain as New York went on a 3-on-1 break, converting and going up 2-0 thanks to a shot from Artemi Panarin.

Iorio went to the locker room, and he is questionable to return. There was no call on the play.

It's a tough break for the Capitals, who are already without the services of second-pairing defensemen Rasmus Sandin and Nick Jensen. Both Sandin and Jensen were also injured on big hits along the boards.

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Iorio appeared in six games to close out the regular season for Washington, posting a plus/minus of plus-1 while averaging 9:50 minutes a night.

He was making his playoff debut in New York and skated just 1:50 minutes.