‘I’ll come back stronger’: Lightning’s Sergachev makes emotional post after injury

After leaving Wednesday’s game on a stretcher, Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Mikhail Sergachev took to Instagram and vowed to come back stronger.

The 25-year-old defenceman had his left leg bent at an awkward angle seven minutes into the second period of the Lightning’s game against the New York Rangers.

Sergachev became tangled with Alexis Lafreniere after the Rangers forward attempted a reverse hit on the approaching Tampa Bay player. Sergachev’s left skate seemed to stick in the ice as his knee twisted at an unnatural angle.

In the early hours of Thursday morning, the defenceman made an emotional post on his personal Instagram account with his thoughts on his latest setback.

“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,” Sergachev wrote in the post. “The universe is unpredictable I guess, and has its own plan, but [expletive] 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 [though], 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.”

Sergachev had returned Wednesday after missing the previous 17 games with a leg injury sustained in December. The Lightning declared Sergachev out for the game with a lower-body injury before the second period concluded. There was no further information on his condition after the game

The Russian defenceman is in his seventh season with the Lightning. He has played 475 career games, including four contests with the Montreal Canadiens, who selected him ninth overall in the 2016 NHL draft.

— With files from the Associated Press