For the first time since a summer trade, Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi would take on his former team, the Los Angeles Kings. Unfortunately, Vilardi would play only around six minutes of the game before leaving with an apparent knee injury. Shortly thereafter, the Jets would announce that Vilardi would miss the rest of the game, and more would be known about the severity after the contest.
Playing in their defensive zone early on the first, as they were both going into the corner, Kings forward Blake Lizotte appeared to get his stick behind the left leg of Vilardi, causing him to fall awkwardly on his right knee. Without the ability to put much pressure on his right leg after the fall, Vilardi immediately bolted for the locker room, where he is being attended to by team doctors.
Although it is too early to tell if Vilardi is set to miss significant time for the Jets, it would obviously be a big blow to both him and the team. There have been injury concerns for Vilardi in the past, but with him now playing on the top line in Winnipeg, it creates a much larger hole to fill. As it is well known throughout the league, Conor Garland of the Vancouver Canucks is on the trade block and could be a potential landing spot if Vilardi is set to hit the LTIR.
Other injuries:
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!