Colorado defenseman Sam Girard suffered a broken sternum and is out for the remainder of the playoffs, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said after the Avs’ 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night.
Girard suffered the injury early in the first period when Blues forward Ivan Barbashev drove him into the end boards with a big hit. Girard was taken to a local hospital in St. Louis for further evaluation.
No penalty was assessed on the play. Bednar called the hit a legal check.
Girard had three points (one goal, two assists) in six postseason games.
Blues goalie Jordan Binnington was knocked out 6:45 into the game when Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri and Blues blueliner Calle Rosen crashed into him in the net. It appeared to be a lower-body injury. Binnington tried some agility drills but was not able to continue.
No penalty was assessed on the play.
Ville Husso replaced Binnington and finished with 19 saves.
The Avs took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinals.
–Field Level Media