TORONTO — During a game on Saturday night, Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse was injured after a significant hit to the head from Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves early in the second period.

Nurse was attempting to maneuver around his net when Reaves caught him with a high hit, causing Nurse to fall heavily to the ice. Following the incident, Nurse remained on the ice for several minutes while medical staff attended to him, and the atmosphere in Scotiabank Arena turned somber as fans watched in concern. The Oilers announced that he would not return for the remainder of the game.

After the hit, Reaves was seen exchanging remarks with Oilers captain Connor McDavid as he made his way off the ice. The referees deemed Reaves’ actions severe enough to assess him with a match penalty, which included a game misconduct.

So far this season, the 29-year-old Nurse has contributed with two goals and seven assists over the course of 17 games. Fans and teammates alike hope for a speedy recovery for the defenseman as the team continues to navigate the season.