The much-anticipated battle between the NHL's two top rookies didn't end according to plan.
Islanders forward Mathew Barzal (18-49-67) and Canucks forward Brock Boeser (29-26-55) entered Monday night's meeting as the league's highest scoring first-years, but the latter was forced to exit the game late in the third period after suffering a scary looking back injury.
The 21-year-old Minnesota native collided with Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck in the final 60 seconds of regulation and landed awkwardly in front of the Canucks bench near its open door.
BOESER IS DOWN. I REPEAT. BOESER IS DOWN. pic.twitter.com/BfToG3rJjL
— CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) March 6, 2018
Boeser remained down on the ice for a few moments, clutching his back, before receiving treatment from team doctors and being helped back to the Vancouver locker room.
After the game, Canucks coach Travis Green didn't know the extent of the injury, but said that Boeser was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons.
No update from Coach Green on Boeser, "just that he was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons."
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) March 6, 2018
Vancouver managed to rally without its Calder Trophy candidate, as Brendan Leipsic scored his second goal of the game in overtime to seal the Canucks' 4-3 win.
Barzal registered two assists on the night for the Islanders, who have now lost seven games in a row.