Flames star Matthew Tkachuk injured after being crushed in front of his own bench.

Flames star forward Matthew Tkachuk has left the game with an apparent injury. 

While the Flames have not provided an update on his status, if Tkachuk's body language is any indicator then we are led to believe he was quite shaken up on this play. 

Tkachuk took a big hit from Pittsburgh Penguin Ryan Reaves, and that hit appeared to drive his body into the boards right around the rib area. What really looked bad however is how Tkachuk remained slumped over the boards long after the contact had taken place. 

 Now it could merely be that Tkachuk had the wind knocked out of him, but the fact that he left to the back to seek medical attention is another indicator that he was roughed up on the play.

Tkachuk is not one to embellish injuries from what we have seen thus far in his career, so this has to be a cause of concern from the Flames. It also should be noted that this appeared to be a clean hit from Reaves, if perhaps a little late, but he was awarded a 2 minute minor on the play, something he was not the least bit happy about.

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Update: Tkachuk has returned in the third period, no update on what ailment initially caused him to leave the ice.