Posted on 02/10/2008 6:46:52 PM PST by Perdogg
Panthers forward Richard Zednik was in stable condition at a Buffalo hospital while having surgery to close a deep gash on the right side of his neck, which was sliced by a teammate's skate during a game against the Sabres on Sunday.
Blood gushed from Zednik's neck after he was hurt midway through the third period of Buffalo's 5-3 victory, creating a frightening moment that delayed the game for about 15 minutes.
Zednik was behind the play and skating into the right corner of the Sabres' zone, when teammate Olli Jokinen was upended by Sabres forward Clarke MacArthur. Jokinen fell head-first to the ice, and his right leg flew up and struck Zednik directly on the side of the neck.
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I hope Zednik is okay, and best wishes for a speedy recovery.
same here.
Players' necks and throats are vulnerable not only to skate blades, but to sticks and pucks as well. Many goalies have throat protectors, so other players may consider some sort of voluntary protecion as well.
The last thing the NHL needs is a crowd gasping in horror while Zambonis scrape a pool of blood from the ice.
Ping
I was watching the game on local TV — one of the most horrifying things I’ve seen. Thankfully, they had enough respect not to replay the event in gory detail.
The response by emergency personnel was superb, and they announced Zednik in stable condition within about 20 minutes, which was a factor in the NHL deciding to finish the game. Listening to post-game, most of the players were pretty shaken up though.
Second time something like this happened in Buffalo at a Sabres game. Sabre Goalie Clint Malarchuk had his throat slit by a skate, blood everywhere.
I remember a few years ago a goalie got cut by another players skate on the front of his neck and there was blood all over the ice. It was a horrible thing. Fortunately he was OK. That’s always a real danger especially when players fall or feet go up in the air.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Similar situation in this weekend’s Flyers/Rangers game with a ref catching a skate blade of an upended player in the face. Not as grave as Zednik’s injury, but frightening to say the least.
I saw a quick replay of it tonight and it was horrifying. I’m so relieved he’s okay.
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