Troubling scene involving NHL linesman during Game 1 of Wild-Golden Knights series

It's officially Stanley Cup Playoffs time in the NHL, a time of year where even non-postseason teams' fan bases tune into games on television due to the high intensity of the game.

During this past NHL regular season we witnessed one very scare scene involving referee Mitch Dunning, who was forced to be stretchered off the ice.

And now, linesman Bryan Pancich was in the middle of a collision that would ultimately lead to his removal of the game due to injury on Sunday night.

Pancich found out the hard way just how intense the NHL playoffs are when the Vegas Golden Knights took on the Minnesota Wild at T-Mobile Arena.

An alternate referee had to step into play and put on Pancich's jersey following his injury.

The collision saw Golden Knights defenseman Brett Howden, who was unaware of his surroundings, make an attempt to retrieve the puck mid-air.

Howden would then give the linesman a pat on the back as a sign of concern over the collision but would end up exiting the ice with the help of the Golden Knights medical trainers.

The NHL wrote in a statement

We can only hope the collision will not result in a long-term injury and that he will be back in no time! Here's to a speedy recovery, Bryan Pancich!