Sergechev sends a heartbreaking message to fans

In case you missed it last night, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev suffered a devastating injury when he got tangled up with New York Rangers forward Alexis Lafreniere and ended up falling awkwardly and hyperextending his left knee.

Honestly, it was absolutely brutal to see:

Sergachev was eventually taken off the ice on a stretcher, giving a 'thumbs up' to the crowd on his way out.

Later in the evening though, Sergachev himself sent out an update on his health via Instagram for fans and media analysts. It was a raw moment of a player asking, 'Why me'?

Check it out:

Oh man, why me? Why now? After all the games missed, coming back and getting injured again, feels unfair, feels terrible. Trying to stay calm and positive, but it’s impossible. After doing everything right I get this. The universe is unpredictable I guess, and has its own plans , but fuck the universe man, I know I’ll come back stronger and I know I’ll play better than before, but it’s tough right now, and it’s gonna be tough tomorrow. We all fight our own battles and this is mine. I’ll win, always do. Pain meds are good tho, if I was in the forest by myself I’d be dead, crazy innit?! Wanted to write how I feel here, don’t know why, but just wanted to let people that care about me know! I appreciate all of your messages. Thanks to the medical staff.

- Mikhail Sergachev

Oh, man... that's tough to read.

Get well, Sergy.

Read below for our earlier published report on Sergachev's injury, from last night as it ocurred.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev was back in action on Wednesday night against the New York Rangers, unfortunately, he was taken out as quick as he was back in.

At the beginning of the second period, Sergachev went for the hit on Rangers’ Alexis Lafreniere, but the forward reversed it which caused Sergachev to bounce off near the boards. The defenseman’s skate blade appeared to get caught in the bottom of the boards and Lafreniere's skate blade made contact with Sergachev's leg. Poor Sergachev fell in excruciating pain as he held his left knee.

It looked like he could have suffered a torn ACL seeing that Sergachev was unable to leave the ice on his own, though it is still unclear as to what the injury is. Sergachev kept holding his left leg, so it could have gotten hurt on the fall or Lafreniere’s skate blade made contact with it. The stretcher was taken out and he was loaded on it. As he was ushered off the ice, Sergachev was seen crying in a towel as he seems to know this will be a long absence for him.

When he lifted his head from the towel in which he had buried his face once he was loaded onto the stretcher, Sergachev gave the fans at Madison Square Garden a thumbs-up as he was carried off the ice.

Here is what happened:

Sergachev had just returned from a 17 game absence due to a lower-body injury, with the Lightning going 12-5-0 without him in the lineup. He is in the first year of an eight-year, $68 million contract. Before leaving tonight’s game, Sergachev had one hit in 10:22 of ice time.

When the blue liner was taken out on the stretcher, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper headed back to the team's dressing room to quickly check on his player. Even Lafreniere appeared to be shaken up by the incident. He went over to Sergachev once he was put on the stretcher, and was seen deep in thought at the Rangers' bench before play got underway again.

Originally selected ninth overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 2016, Sergachev has played seven seasons in Tampa, winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in the 2019-20, 2020-21 seasons.

Just before the start of the third frame, the Lightning announced that Sergachev would not return to the contest due to a lower-body injury.

Recommended articles:

• Mikhail Sergachev at it again, blasts the Maple Leafs
• Mikhail Sergachev clarifies his comments on Maple Leafs!
• Tampa’s Mikhail Sergachev rips the Maple Leafs in brutal analysis!
• Mikhail Sergachev gives Leafs prime bulletin board material