During the 2012 lockout, Capitals center Brooks Laich injured his groin playing for the Kloten Flyers. Since then he’s struggled through injury, missing 70 games over the last two seasons.

Laich promised that this campaign would be different, and so far it has. Through five games his groin hasn’t visibly hindered him. He’s played big minutes. But during the third period of Saturday’s game, Laich absorbed a tough shoulder-to-shoulder hit from noted goon Shawn Thornton. He immediately left the game.

What an unlucky play.

Let me slow this down a bit too. Look at Laich as he grimaces afterwards.

Poor guy.

After the game, Coach Barry Trotz was noncommittal about the injury, which he says he didn’t see. The team will re-evaluate Laich on Monday, but they have classified the injury as upper-body.

Full RMNB Coverage of Caps vs Panthers