Scary situation averted as NHL referee TJ Luxmore, who left game early with an injury, returns

In the NHL and the overall world of professional sports, referees are responsible for ensuring the safety of the players and enforcing the rules of the game.

However, if a referee is unable to continue officiating a game, a replacement must be called in to take their place. That's exactly what happened in the NHL playoffs game three between the New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes.

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Game three of Islanders-Hurricanes: NHL referee TJ Luxmore returns after leaving with scary injury

During the second period of the game, Islanders forward Zach Parise hit Hurricanes defenseman Brady Skjei on the boards behind the Carolina net.

Skjei's skate made contact with referee TJ Luxmore, causing him to leave the game with an injury. As a result, NHL officials had to call a replacement referee, Wes McCauley, for a few minutes.

A little over half the period later, the scary situation got a little better, as TJ Luxmore returned after Skjei's left skate had hit him in the groin, making contact with the referee's ankle.

McCauley is a veteran NHL referee with over 1,000 games of experience. He's well-respected by players, coaches and fans alike for his fair and consistent officiating style.

McCauley has also gone viral due to his often excitable penalty calls. He was able to step in seamlessly and ensure that the game continued to be played fairly and safely.

The use of replacement referees is not uncommon in professional sports. In fact, it is a standard practice in many leagues, including the NHL, to have a group of backup officials on hand in case of an emergency. These officials are trained and ready to step in at a moment's notice to ensure that the game can continue uninterrupted.

While the use of replacement referees can be controversial at times, it's important to remember that their primary goal is to keep the players safe and enforce the rules of the game. In situations like the one that occurred during game three of the Islanders-Hurricanes playoff series, a replacement referee became necessary to ensure that the game could continue without any major disruptions.

The use of replacement referees is a necessary part of professional sports. While it may be unfortunate when an injury forces a referee to leave a game, it's reassuring to know that there are trained officials ready to step in and ensure that the game can continue safely and fairly.

Wes McCauley's performance during game three of the Islanders-Hurricanes series is a testament to the importance of having reliable replacement referees on hand.