Jason Pominville leaves ice on stretcher after violent hit
The National Hockey League and the NHL Players Association worked very hard over the summer in an effort to eliminate blind-side hits, hits to the head and hits from behind. It didn’t
take long for an incident to happen however, as on Monday night, a scary hit occurred during a game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Chicago Blackhawks less than a week into the season.
During first period action, Sabres winger Jason Pominville was hit in the head and from behind by Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Niklas Hjalmarsson. Pominville was chasing down a loose
puck inside his own blue line when Hjalmarsson hit him into the boards causing Pominville to crash heavily into the boards while his head hit the glass. Pominville had to leave the ice on a stretcher but did not have to go to the hospital, as he was diagnosed
by Buffalo doctors at the HSBC Arena. Pominville suffered a concussion on the play as well as a cut that required either stitches above his eye.
Hjalmarsson, stated he did not try to injure Pominville on the play.
"Everything happened so fast," Hjalmarsson said. "My intention wasn't to hurt him. You never want to see someone laying on the ice like that."
Pominville lay on the ice on his back motionless for 15 minutes while receiving attention from emergency medical personnel. After stabilizing his neck and head, Pominville finally showed
signs of movement with his right arm and appeared to be talking while being wheeled off the ice.
Hjalmarsson was given a five-minute major penalty for boarding and also received a game misconduct on the play.
"It was a terrible hit," Sabres left-winger Thomas Vanek said. "It was to the head and from behind, but (Hjalmarsson's) not a dirty player."
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff didn't want to speculate on whether or not the Blackhawks defenceman will be suspended.
"It'll be interesting," he said. "(Hjalmarsson) made a big mistake. He caught a player in a tough spot."
Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville also commented on the play and defended Hjalmarsson.
"To me, you could argue that it (wasn't) even a penalty," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "I don't want to see anybody go down and get hurt like that, but (Hjalmarsson) wasn't even
looking at the guy, he was playing the puck. There was no intent at all on the hit."
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