The NHL clash on Tuesday, May 12, turned emotional after Ryan Poehling sustained an injury. The atmosphere in the arena shifted immediately, as later fans shared their concerns on social media about Poehling.

The incident happened in Game 5 between the Anaheim Ducks and the Vegas Golden Knights. Poehling got injured after a collision with the Knights’ Brayden McNabb. 

After a short delay, Poehling was helped off the ice and did not return to the game. The Anaheim Ducks dropped an update on the injury on X on May 12.

"Injury Update: Ryan Poehling has an upper-body injury and will not return to this game," read the statement.

After the incident, officials gave McNabb a game misconduct for interfering with Poehling. 

McNabb's hit caused a major penalty (5-minutes). That itself was a significant punishment, especially since he missed a large portion of the game.

The hit looked late, but he did not use his elbow or leave his feet. Officials may consider the on-ice penalty enough, so further action is not certain.

Poehling will be considered day-to-day before Game 6 on Thursday, May 14.

If he cannot play, the Ducks will lose depth at forward. It can also affect line combinations, penalty kill, and faceoffs, depending on his role in the game.

This season, Poehling has played 75 games and scored 36 points, including 11 goals. In the playoffs till now, he has played 11 games and scored 5 points, including 4 goals and an assist. 

Fans Flood Social Media With Emotional Reactions After Ryan Poehling Injury Scare

After the incident, a lot of fans were scared and were hoping for Poehling's fast recovery.

One fan reacted with anger and concern after the heavy collision. "There's a shock. I hope he's okay. Send Gudas after that piece of s*** that did it. F*** his knees up!" Emotions quickly took over as many viewers feared Poehling may have suffered a serious injury.

Another fan called the moment unfortunate, especially with Poehling enjoying a strong playoff run. "Unfortunate for a guy having a great playoffs, and clearly has had head injuries in the past. Regardless of the feelings towards the call, hope he heals up and comes back better than before," he wrote.

If Poehling won’t be able to play Game 6, it will change the team’s line combinations. In that case, players like Jansen Harkins or Frank Vatrano could replace him in the lineup.

Another fan demanded a harsh suspension for McNabb after Poehling’s injury scare. "McNabb should be out 2x longer than Poehling is." McNabb has never been suspended before in his career, which started in 2011.

One fan hoped Poehling avoided a serious injury while urging the Ducks to stay focused and respond strongly. "Hopefully it's nothing serious. Ducks gotta rally. Let's Go," he wrote. Poehling was along the boards when he took the hit unexpectedly and looked to have his head snap back into the glass.

The Ducks now trail the series 3–2 after losing Games 1, 3, and 5, while they won Games 2 and 4. They lost the last game 3–2 in a close battle.

Share your thoughts on Poehling's injury.

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar