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Unkind cut for bloodied Panther

Unkind cut for bloodied Panther


Florida Panthers forward Richard Zednik underwent emergency surgery to close a deep gash on the right side of his neck after he was slashed by a teammate's skate during a NHL game.
Blood gushed from Zednik's neck after he was hurt midway through the third period of the Buffalo Sabres' 5-3 victory in New York, creating a frightening moment that delayed play for about 15 minutes, and there was a brief discussion about postponing the game.

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 on the side of the neck.

Clutching his neck, Zednik raced to the bench, leaving a long trail of blood. The Slovak nearly fell into the arms of a team trainer, who quickly applied a towel to the cut. Zednik was then helped off the ice by the trainer and teammate Jassen Cullimore.

"We shouldn't have finished the game," Jokinen said. "We were all in shock. I've never seen anything like that. There are bigger things than (finishing the game). It was terrifying.

"If it was my call, I would have gone to the hospital with him."

Zednik's injury left players and coaches on both benches stunned, and a silent hush fell over the crowd at HSBC Arena in Buffalo.

League vice-president Colin Campbell consulted with Sabres general manager Darcy Regier and referee Bill McCreary in a tunnel after Zednik was put  
into an ambulance. Campbell talked to commissioner Gary Bettman and decided to continue the game after knowing that Zednik was stable, and the teams were willing to go on.

"I can fully understand if they wanted to cancel the whole game," Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. "When you see something like that, it isn't about playing any more."

A Panthers spokesman said Zednik was taken to Buffalo General Hospital, where he was "resting comfortably" after a successful surgery.

Zednik's injury was eerily reminiscent of an injury sustained by Sabres goaltender Clint Malarchuk in March 1989. He severed his jugular vein when St Louis Blues forward Steve Tuttle was upended, slicing Malarchuk with a skate. Malarchuk required more than 300 stitches but spent only one night in hospital.

Zednik's was the second serious injury caused by a skate over the weekend.

Linesman Pat Dapuzzo needed dozens of stitches to close a cut on his face after he was hit by the skate of Philadelphia Flyers forward Steve Downie in a game against the New York Rangers.