The intensity of the NHL playoffs reached a boiling point on Friday night as the Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche clashed in a heated Game 3 at Ball Arena.
However, the on-ice battle took a grim turn when Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon suffered a severe cut to his hand during a chaotic end-of-game brawl.
As the final seconds ticked away, with the Avalanche securing a 6-2 victory to take a 2-1 series lead, tensions erupted into an all-out melee.
Jets – Avs ends in a line brawl with Dillon getting cut on the hand by a skate pic.twitter.com/8XzdU8ZlVM
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) April 27, 2024
Amidst the flurry of fists and tangled bodies, Dillon’s hand was lacerated, leaving a trail of blood on the ice as he rushed to the locker room. Don’t watch the video if you are squeamish.
That is one nasty gash on Brendan Dillon’s hand. pic.twitter.com/R9yQN5rmht
— Sens Are Next (@SensAreNext) April 27, 2024
According to the Avs’ play-by-play guy, Dillon’s hand got stepped on during the melee. The fact that they wouldn’t even show the replay tells you just how brutal it must have been.
I’m no medical expert, but judging from the angle of the open wound, it looks like Dillon could be facing months of recovery
“It was a scary situation,” said Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey, expressing the team’s concern for their wounded teammate. “We’re really hoping he’s okay.”
Head coach Rick Bowness had no immediate update on Dillon’s status, as the 33-year-old blueliner was still being examined by medical staff. The severity of the cut, captured in gruesome detail by cameras, left fans and players alike fearing the worst.
Dillon, known for his physical presence and defensive ability, has been a key contributor for the Jets this season. His absence would be a significant blow to Winnipeg’s blueline as they attempt to even the series in Game 4 on Sunday.
The injury marred an otherwise great game, which saw the Avalanche stage a remarkable third-period comeback. Trailing 2-1 entering the final frame, Colorado’s offensive stars, including Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, led a five-goal onslaught to secure the victory.
As the series shifts to Game 4, the focus will undoubtedly be on Dillon’s health and the Jets’ ability to regroup after a demoralizing loss. The Avalanche, riding high on their home-ice advantage, will look to maintain their momentum and push the Jets to the brink of elimination.
As a fan, I can only hope that Dillon is alright and that he doesn’t have any long-term injury. It’s a brutal reminder of the risks these players take every time they step on the ice.
The hockey world now waits with bated breath, hoping for positive news about Dillon’s condition and a speedy recovery.
