Jordan Binnington, Sam Girard injured early, leave Game 3

ST. LOUIS – Not even 10 minutes gone here in the first period of Game 3, and both the Avalanche and Blues have already lost key players. For the Blues, they lost starting goalie Jordan Binnington to what looked like a left leg injury. For the Avs, defenseman Sam Girard was lost after taking a hard hit into the boards from Ivan Barbeshev.

The Binnington injury happened after Avs center Nazem Kadri was going to the net and engaged with Blues defender, and former Av, Calle Rosen. The forward momentum carried them both into Binnington. The veteran Blues goalie tried to shake it off, but he immediately began favoring his left leg and left the game. He was replaced by Ville Husso. There was no penalty on the play. TNT referee analyst Don Koharski said it was a “good non-call.”

Girard was playing a puck behind his net when he had his head down some, and Barbashev finished his  check. Girard’s head went into the glass and he has blood dripping from his mouth. It did not seem like a dirty hit by Barbashev, at least not to me.

As I type, it’s 1-1 in the first period, with Logan O’Connor scoring for the Avs, on Husso, and Colton Parayko beating Darcy Kuemper with a long slap shot. This story will be updated if more news is had…

UPDATE: Girard has been taken to a local hospital for further evaluation, the Avs just announced. Obviously, he won’t return to the game.