After a rough collision on Saturday with Lightning defenseman Haydn Fleury, referee Steve Kozari was rushed to the hospital.
Following the collision in the third period of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 5-4 victory over the Lightning on Saturday, the referee had to be removed off the ice on a stretcher.
At 6:11 into the third period, as the Penguins were starting to move the puck out of their defensive zone, Kozari and Fleury collided at center ice.
After striking his head on the ice, Kozari lay unconscious for a few minutes as emergency staff attended to him and removed him from the rink. He could move his hands and arms.
According to the NHL, Kozari was “conscious and alert, has the use of all of his extremities, and is expected to make a full recovery” when he was admitted to the hospital as a precaution.
Fleury was naturally a little taken aback. It was just one of those performances that happened by mistake. I hope both of them will be alright, though.
With 5:28 remaining in the third, Michael Bunting broke a tie, and the Penguins won, securing a postseason berth.
For Pittsburgh, Bunting contributed two assists, and Evgeni Malkin scored two goals. Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby both scored as well.
Goalie Alex Nedeljkovic of the Penguins recorded 30 saves during his seventh consecutive start.
Pittsburgh won its fourth straight game and raised its record to 6-0-2 after eight games. The Flyers will be visiting Columbus on Saturday night, and they are now tied with Philadelphia for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.
The Lightning had won 10 of their prior 12 games before securing a postseason berth on Friday when Philadelphia, Washington, and Detroit all dropped games in regulation.
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