Key Highlights
- Ottawa Senators forward Nick Cousins left Tuesday night’s game after a body check from Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun.
- Officials reviewed the collision but decided it did not warrant a five-minute major penalty.
- Washington defeated Ottawa 3-2 in overtime, with Cole Hutson scoring the winning goal.
Nick Cousins Leaves Senators Game After Jakob Chychrun Hit
Ottawa Senators forward Nick Cousins was forced to leave Tuesday night’s game against the Washington Capitals on November 10, 2026, after taking a powerful body check from Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun. The collision occurred with approximately 2:57 remaining in the third period at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Canada.
Cousins was attempting to move the puck out of Ottawa’s defensive zone when Chychrun delivered the hit, sending the Senators forward into the boards. Cousins remained down on the ice before eventually getting up with assistance from teammates and team staff. He did not return to the game.
Officials Review Collision Without Issuing Major Penalty
Officials reviewed the collision to determine whether it merited a five-minute major penalty. After the review, they concluded that the hit did not warrant a penalty.
Senators head coach Travis Green disagreed with the decision and suggested that Cousins had been struck in the head. Green said after the game that his player was not doing well, although no specific injury diagnosis had been officially confirmed in the initial reports.
Capitals Win in Overtime as Safety Concerns Resurface
Washington went on to defeat Ottawa 3-2 in overtime, with Cole Hutson scoring the winning goal. Despite the result, the Cousins-Chychrun collision became one of the game’s main talking points because of the force of the contact, Cousins’ inability to continue and the officials’ decision not to issue a penalty.
The incident renewed discussion about physical contact in the NHL, player safety and the standards officials use when evaluating potentially dangerous hits. The lack of a confirmed diagnosis meant that the immediate reports did not establish the full extent of Cousins’ condition.
Why This Matters
The collision highlights the difficulty of assessing high-impact plays in real time, particularly when a player is driven into the boards and appears to sustain contact near the head. The officials’ review and Travis Green’s criticism underscored the differing interpretations that can emerge after a major hit.
For the Ottawa Senators, the next relevant development is an official update on Nick Cousins’ condition. Until such information is released, the available facts confirm only that Cousins left the game and did not return. The incident also keeps attention on how the NHL evaluates player safety concerns alongside the physical nature of professional hockey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Nick Cousins?
Nick Cousins left the Ottawa Senators’ game against the Washington Capitals after Jakob Chychrun checked him into the boards late in the third period. Cousins received assistance getting up and did not return.
Was Jakob Chychrun penalized?
Officials reviewed the collision for a potential five-minute major penalty but determined that the hit did not warrant a penalty.
Who won the game between Ottawa and Washington?
The Washington Capitals defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-2 in overtime. Cole Hutson scored the winning goal.
