Jets forward Vladislav Namestnikov suffers a fractured cheekbone after a puck hit him in the face
DENVER (AP) — Winnipeg forward Vladislav Namestnikov suffered a fractured cheekbone when a puck hit him on the left side of his face in Game 4 against Colorado, the team said Monday.
Jets coach Rick Bowness said that Namestnikov stayed overnight in Denver and was returning to Winnipeg on Monday. Bowness added there was no orbital damage to Namestnikov’s eye. His availability for Game 5 on Tuesday was uncertain.
“I sent him a text last night and he answered this morning and said he’s feeling better,” said Bowness, whose team lost 5-1 on Sunday and trails the Avalanche 3-1 in the first-round series. “It could have been a lot worse.”
Bowness wasn’t ruling out Namestnikov possibly wearing a helmet with a protective cage.