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Henrik Lundqvist leaves Game 1 vs. Penguins after stick to face (Video)

NHL

By the second period of Game 1 between the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers on Wednesday night, it was a battle of backup goalies.

Jeff Zatkoff started for the Penguins, after Marc-Andre Fleury couldn’t go. Fleury has been recovering from a concussion suffered in late March. Then, with moments to go in the period, Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist took a stick to the face from his defenseman Marc Staal.

After taking the stick to the face, Lundqvist fell on his stomach and stayed down in significant discomfort as the trainer arrived. He eventually got to his feet and tried to work through the injury -- a lengthy delay, and one that Penguins fans eventually jeered -- before going back this crease.

That was at 19:11 of the first period. At 19:42, Patric Hornqvist knocked home a rebounded puck for a 1-0 Penguins lead.

Antti Raanta started the second period; Lundqvist wasn’t on the bench.

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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