Blackhawks’ Marcus Kruger exits game after elbow hit by Ryan Hartman

Blackhawks forward Marcus Kruger left Tuesday’s game after being elbowed in the face by Predators forward Ryan Hartman in the second period.

Hartman was controlling the puck with his back to Kruger when he cocked back his left elbow and hit the Chicago veteran in the face. Kruger fell to the ice and left a trail of blood on the United Center ice as he was helped off the ice by an official.

The Blackhawks ice crew cleaned up Kruger’s blood on the ice before play resumed.

Chicago traded Hartman to the Predators last February for forward Victor Ejdsell and a first- and fourth-round draft pick that turned out to be defenseman Nicolas Beaudin and forward Philipp Kurashev. Tuesday’s game is Hartman’s first contest against the Blackhawks at the United Center.

Kruger has four goals and an assist this season.