Capitals' Jensen stretchered off in win over Lightning

Washington Capitals defenseman Nick Jensen was taken off the ice on a stretcher Saturday after being hit by Tampa Bay Lightning forward Mikey Eyssimont and falling awkwardly into the boards.

Jensen laid motionless on the ice as the two teams brawled in the aftermath.

Eyssimont was initially escorted to the penalty box by the officials but ultimately wasn't penalized.

Shorty thereafter, the Capitals said Jensen is conscious, alert, and can use all his extremities. The team's medical staff will continue to monitor him. Washington ultimately prevailed 4-2 to keep the club's playoff hopes alive.

Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said postgame that Jensen walked out of the arena with his family and didn't need to be hospitalized.

The game went to the first intermission early as a result of the incident.

Washington forward Nic Dowd challenged Eyssimont to a fight in the second frame.

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper checked in on Jensen's condition after the game.

“It’s tough to see anybody (go through that), but he's a special kid for me," Cooper said, according to Lightning team reporter Gabby Shirley. "We won a championship in the USHL together. He's awesome. Those are tough ones to see, especially because the result of the hit, it wasn't penalized nor should it have been. It was just a tough one all the way around. I'm hoping he is OK.”

Jensen is in his fifth full season with the Capitals. He played parts of three campaigns with the Detroit Red Wings to start his career before they traded him to Washington in February 2019.

The 33-year-old has played a top-four role with the Capitals this season. He has a goal and 13 assists over 78 games in 2023-24 and came into Saturday's game averaging 19:48 of ice time.