Capitals' Jensen Stretchered Off Ice vs. Lightning, Alert & Being Monitored By Medical Personnel After Hit By Eyssimont; No Penalty On Play

WASHINGTON — Washington Capitals defenseman Nick Jensen has been stretchered off the ice, and the first period has been called in Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Capitals announced that Jensen is conscious, alert and has the use of all his extremities, and that he will continue to be monitored by the team's medical personnel at this time.

Jensen was skating by the Tampa bench when he took a heavy hit by Michael Eyssimont. The 6-1, 205-pound defenseman went hard into the boards head and neck first and hit the ice, where he lay motionless for several moments as trainers attended to him.

His teammates, who had dropped the gloves to stick up for him after the hit, were visibly shaken up as the officials called the first period early, tacking on 1:31 minutes to the second. There was no penalty on the play.

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Jensen has been a vital part of the blue line for D.C. and has been taking on more minutes in these final games with usual defensive partner Rasmus Sandin expected to miss the remainder of the regular-season slate.

In 78 games this season, the 33-year-old defenseman has a goal and 13 assists and skated seven minutes, which led all Capitals skaters, on Saturday before the injury.