BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jonathan Drouin exited Game 3 of the Eastern Conference second-round series in the second period, after he was on the receiving end of a massive body check by the New York Islanders' Thomas Hickey.
Drouin returned midway through the third period, and there was no penalty on the play.
"I just cut to the middle, and he read the play," Drouin said. "I looked at the hit after, and it appears it was a clean hit. He just got me. He read what I was doing, and I have nothing against him. It was a clean hit."
The 21-year-old forward had control of the puck as he entered the offensive zone. He cut back toward the middle of the ice when Hickey made the hit. Drouin was clearly shaken up on the play, and after he got to his feet, he struggled to get to the bench. After a few minutes, he went to the locker room.
"It was just precautionary stuff," Drouin said. "I wanted to make sure I was fine, and I felt fine. The doctors wanted to make sure I was 100 percent, and when I felt that way, I was going to go back."
Drouin has one goal and seven assists for eight points in eight playoff games this postseason.
Tampa Bay owns a 2-1 series lead after Tuesday night's 5-4 overtime victory.
