WATCH: Jack Eichel heads to locker room after taking BRUTAL shot by teammate Jonathan Marchessault in Game 4
For the second time in this series, Jack Eichel had to leave the playing field after taking a hit. This time he was struck on the neck by his own teammate Jonathan Marchessault in Game 4 against the Cats.
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Jack Eichel (left) and Jonathan Marchessault (right) [Pic Credit: Sporting News/Bleacher Report]
As the Stanley Cup final comes closer to a conclusion, tensions, and nerves have boiled up. On Saturday during Game 4 between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Florida Panthers, Jack Eichel had to leave the game due to an injury scare. The Golden Knights center left player was knocked down after receiving a shot at the neck of the puck from fellow teammate Jonathan Marchessault.
A clearly unintentional moment, Eichel would have to leave the play field and make his way through the locker room. The team later received some positive updates as he came back to the bench during the final moments of the game.
This is however not the first time that Eichel has been on the receiving end of a major hit. During Game 2 of this series, he took a massive hit from Panthers star forward Matthew Tkachuk. The Golden Knights player would later return in that game which saw his side squash their opponents 7-2 to take a commanding 2-0 series lead at that time.
Vegas Golden Knights one win away from historic triumph
While Jack Eichel may have missed out on the game, his side did more than enough to grab the victory. After losing Game 3, the Golden Knights came out firing from the very beginning. The side showed their dominance and rose to a 3-0 lead. Two goals from Chandler Stephenson and one from William Karlsson had put the team in a driving seat. The Panthers did manage to pull two goals back but had to settle with another defeat, which has put them in an unwanted position.
As a result of this victory, the Golden Knights have now drawn one inch closer to the Stanley Cup crown. If the team does go on to take home the trophy, they would have to thank the services of Eichel. The star center-left has been a crucial part of the team and their success in the postseason so far. He is level on 23 points with Marchessault. Whether he will take part in the next game is uncertain.
The Golden Knights would be hoping that they do not miss him and can get the job done quickly. Before the game, Eichel meet NBA legend Charles Barkley which ended in a rather hilarious meeting. Barkley has been a part of the Stanley Cup after spending a large time in the studio covering NBA. During the meeting of these two, Eichel failed to recognize who the basketball star was.
During an interview, Barkley explained the situation. “He looked at me like, who the hell are you?” the former NBA player revealed. Now whether Eichel failure to recognize him was intentional or not is something the fans are debating. Another theory suggests that the center player was perhaps still feeling the pains of the hit taken in Game 2.
Game 5 of this series is now scheduled to take place on June 13. The Panthers find themselves with a mountain to climb. They will have to produce an unlikely comeback if they were to win the whole thing. Will the Cats continue their fairytale run or the Golden Knights run away with the cup will be answered in a few day’s time?
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Vinay Dave
(1796 Articles Published)