Jets fans are holding their breath after Patrik Laine leaves game early

Patrik Laine left Tuesday’s game against the Kings after blocking a shot with his left leg, and this could spell disaster for Winnipeg if it’s a serious injury.

Winnipeg Jets fans everywhere will be holding their breath for the next few days as they wait for an update on their 19-year-old goal-scoring phenom, Patrik Laine, after he left Tuesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Kings after blocking a shot with his foot.

Early in the second period of a scoreless game, Alec Martinez of the Kings took a slap shot from the point that connected directly with the left ankle of Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine that sent him kneeling to the ice in pain.

Laine hobbled off the ice with assistance from teammates and the trainer back to the locker room.

The Jets later officially announced that Laine would not return to the game with a lower body injury, if you couldn’t tell already. There was no announcement about the severity of the injury or when an update will be provided. Winnipeg eventually won the game against the Kings 2-1 in overtime.

The injury saw Laine’s point streak come to an end at 15 games. During the streak, Laine accumulated 18 goals and eight assists for 26 points in 15 games, the most among any teenager in NHL history and the longest active point streak in the NHL.

Laine also came into tonight tied with Alex Ovechkin in goal scoring with 43 goals, but if the injury causes him to miss any amount of time, it could take him out of the scoring race entirely. To salt the wound, Ovechkin broke the tie with a goal against the Dallas Stars and took the league lead with 44 goals.

The main concern for Winnipeg now should be if Laine is going to miss any playoff time. They are securely in a playoff spot, and with only a 2 percent chance to catch Nashville for first in Central division and a 5 percent chance of falling down to third in the division according to Sports Club Stats. There is no need to rush Laine back before the playoffs, but Laine can and will be a difference maker in a Cup run for the Jets, and that should be Winnipeg’s number one priority right now.

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The injury to Laine could be serious, or it could just be a stinger that the Jets decided to play it safe with by keeping him out of the game. The Jets do not play until Friday against Anaheim, so it does give Winnipeg time to asses Laine and make a reasonable decision on what to do with him.