The defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche will be without forward Andrew Cogliano during a crucial Game 7 on Sunday night — and beyond if the Avalanche advance.
According to Sportsnet and The Athletic, Cogliano suffered a fractured neck when he was hit from behind by the Seattle Kraken’s Jordan Eberle in Friday night’s Game 6 and is out indefinitely.
Cogliano was tended to by a trainer after the hit in which his neck bent awkwardly as he was driven to the boards with 2:16 left in the second period. He returned in the third period and skated a regular shift.
This content is not available due to your privacy preferences.
Update your settings here to see it.
NHL PLAYOFFS: Panthers force Game 7 vs. Bruins; Hurricanes, Stars advance
Though NHL rules allow referees to call a five-minute penalty to initiate a review, Eberle was called only for a two-minute boarding minor. The league didn’t announce any supplemental discipline on Saturday.
The Avalanche won 4-1 in Game 6 to stave off elimination. Game 7 is in Denver (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Avalanche’s Andrew Cogliano has fractured neck on Jordan Eberle hit