Avalanche Defenseman Samuel Girard Injured, Will Miss Rest Of Postseason
/ CBS Colorado
(AP) - Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard had to be helped off the ice after his head crashed into the boards on a check from Ivan Barbashev 1:40 into the first period on Saturday night.
After the game, Avs Coach Jared Bednar said Girard has a broken sternum and will be out for the remainder of the postseason.
ST LOUIS, MO - MAY 21: Ivan Barbashev #49 of the St. Louis Blues checks Samuel Girard #49 of the Colorado Avalanche in the first period during Game Three of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Enterprise Center on May 21, 2022 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)ST. LOUIS, MO - MAY 21: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard (49) holds his head while laying on the ice after being checked into the board during Round 2 game 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Colorado Avalanche and the St. Louis Blues on May 21, 2022, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis MO (Photo by Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
"I thought it was a legal check to be honest with you," Bednar said.
ST. LOUIS, MO - May 21: Samuel Girard #49 of the Colorado Avalanche leaves the ice with training staff after being injured in the game against the St. Louis Blues in Game Three of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Enterprise Center on May 21, 2022 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/NHLI via Getty Images)ST. LOUIS, CO - MAY 21: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard (49) gets help off the ice from a trainer after getting hit St. Louis Blues center Ivan Barbashev (49) in the first period at The Enterprise Center during game three of the second round of the NHL playoffs at the Enterprise Center May 21, 2022. (Photo by Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)"n
"It kind of goes in on his head side, but he got a lot of body there. He just turned the right way and went in awkward. It was a heavy check. Unfortunate."
