Michigan State's Travis Walsh injured Thursday from blocking shot to head

MINNEAPOLIS- Michigan State defenseman Travis Walsh left Thursday's 5-3 loss to Minnesota after blocking a shot with his face and will head to the hospital for X-rays and a CT scan as a precautionary measure.

"He's hurting pretty good," Spartans head coach Tom Anastos told SB Nation College Hockey after the game.

The incident occurred early in the third period when Walsh, who has 13 points in 28 games on MSU's top pairing with Josh Jacobs, slid to block a Leon Bristedt shot. He did so and in the aftermath had to be helped to the bench by the referee. Walsh spent a couple minutes on the bench being tended to by trainers. He then went back to the locker room.

Being without Walsh further hurts the Spartans' blue line depth. Michigan State finished Thursday's game with five defensemen and freshman defenseman Carson Gatt is currently suspended indefinitely by the team.

Michigan State, tied for third in the Big Ten with 25 points, finishes a two game series at Minnesota tomorrow at 8 p.m. CT.

UPDATE 2/27 11:45 p.m. CT: Anastos stated after Friday's game that Walsh is expected to miss the rest of the year with a busted jaw.

S/T Jashvina Shah for the Vine