Gabe Vilardi is done for the night with a leg injury.
Gabriel Vilardi's first game against his former team could not have gone any worse.
The former Los Angeles Kings star forward lasted just 5:55 of the first period on Tuesday night before leaving the game with an apparent right knee injury.
Taken down awkwardly by a Blake Lizotte trip, Vilardi fell backward on his right knee, with his leg bending awkwardly outward.
“It’s awful," teammate Cole Perfetti said post-game.
"Obviously he’s a huge part of our team. The skill and hockey sense that he brings into our lineup is huge. He’s a great guy, so just to see that happen you feel awful for him. I’m not 100 per cent sure what it is, but he looked like he was in a little bit of pain. Just praying for the best and hope it’s nothing serious and whatever it is he has a speedy recovery. We need him back in our lineup because he is such an elite player.”
Vilardi immediately grasped at his leg, before rolling on the ice, wincing a touch, and getting himself to the bench and immediately down the Jets' tunnel.
A few minutes later, the team ruled him out for the rest of the night, with an apparent seriousness to the injury.
Winger Nikolaj Ehlers was elevated into Vilardi's role, while Rasmus Kupari moved up into his spot on Winnipeg's first power play unit.
“Gabe is a guy who has been through a lot," Nikolaj Ehlers said. "I know exactly how that feels. It’s tough for him right now. I don’t know what exactly is happening, but obviously I hope the best. It sucks for us, because he has proven what he can do for us.”
On the season, the 24-year-old first-year Jet has an assist in his first game and owns a -1 rating overall.
"Did we miss Gabe? Absolutely," head coach Rick Bowness said post-game, after announcing more information would be available on Wednesday morning. "He’s our top guy, he's a huge part of the power play. But injuries happen, you move on."