The first round series between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Washington Capitals has been one of the tightest series so far in the NHL playoffs as the first two games needed to be decided in overtime.
During the second period of Game 2 on Sunday night, someone suffered a brutal injury which resulted in the stretcher being brought out onto the ice. Only it wasn’t one of the Blue Jackets or Capitals players, it was linesman Steve Barton, who suffered a dislocated kneecap and a torn quad during the game.
It was a freak accident as Barton ended up suffering the injury when he lost his footing and fell backwards inside the faceoff circle shortly after dropping the puck in the Capitals’ zone, but a dislocated kneecap and a torn quad wasn’t going to stop the 46-year-old linesman from skating off under his power with the help of some trainers.
Barton also ended up getting a visit from Gary Bettman and Bill Daly following the accident, as they left their seats during the game to check in on their staff member.
They say hockey players are some of the toughest athletes in the world and it turns out that their officials are just as tough as some of the players.
(H/T Twitter/NHLonNBCSports)
