Jacob Trouba is one of the toughest players in the National Hockey League and Calgary Flames forward Jakob Pelletier learned that the hard way Monday at Madison Square Garden.
The 22-year-old retreated to the locker room midway through the first period after the New York Rangers captain sent him flying near his bench.
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With his head slightly bowed, Pelletier was struck by Trouba's shoulder and his face slammed into the boards in front of his teammates. He got up on his own but had to return to the locker room to be examined by team doctors. The Flames confirmed shortly afterward that the Quebec native would not return to the game.
Pelletier is playing in just his fourth game this season after returning to play following shoulder surgery in October. The left winger received an assist.
The rest of this game was rather uneventful for the Flames, who fell 0-2. Will Cuylle was the only player to beat a goalkeeper; Jacob Markstrom, who stood out with a great save in the first third. Jimmy Vesey confirmed the victory in an empty net.
Quebec's Alexis Lafrenière and Jonathan Huberdeau remained on the scoresheet.