Elite defenseman appears badly hurt after going head first into the boards.

The New York Islanders got the win over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night to close out 2015, but they may have lost much more.

It appears that talented defenseman Johnny Boychuk has suffered some form of significant injury after he went crashing into the boards head first in what appeared to be the result of a fluke accident.

Thankfully Boychuk was able to get his arm up just in time to shield his head from the worst of the impact, but left the ice favoring his shoulder and neck area, which would lead us to believe the injury may have occurred as a result of him stretching out his arm to absorb the impact. The Islanders have not provided any information on his status, which leads us to believe they don't know yet and Boychuk is being examined, although that is simply speculation.

Here's a look at how it happened.

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