Sens' Cousins out 7-10 days after legal hit by Caps' Chychrun - ESPN

Ottawa Senators forward Nick Cousins will be out for a week to 10 days following a thunderous hit by Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun that was ruled as legal during Tuesday night's game.

Senators' coach Travis Green said Wednesday that Cousins was knocked unconscious by the blow that sent him immediately to the ice late in the third period against the Capitals. Chychrun was not assessed a penalty for the hit following a review by on-ice officials, and ESPN's Emily Kaplan confirmed that the NHL's Department of Player Safety viewed the hit as completely legal and will not extend supplementary discipline toward Chychrun.

The Department of Player Safety believed Chychrun took a good angle, stayed low and drove through the body without reaching up or out toward the head.

There were three minutes remaining in regulation of Tuesday's game when Chychrun forcefully connected his left shoulder into Cousins' chest right when the forward's head was tilted away following a pass. Cousins' head subsequently hit off the glass and the ice when he landed. Cousins had to be helped off the ice and did not return afterward. Washington went on to win the game 3-2 in overtime.

In his postgame availability, Green said Cousins was «not doing great» but hadn't needed to be transported to the hospital. Green also didn't agree with the lack of action taken against Chychrun on the play.

«I'm a little surprised,» Green said. «I thought it was a head shot to a player who wasn't ready for it. I guess they saw it differently.»

Referees had originally called the hit a five-minute major penalty, believing Chychrun had connected directly with Cousins' head. After looking over the video, that was deemed not to be the case, removing the penalty