Phoenix Coyotes' winger Petr Prucha, a former New York Ranger, was taken off the ice on a stretcher during Saturday night's game with the Dallas Stars.
The huge fan-favorite received a hard, high hit along the boards from Stars' winger James Neal early in the first period after playing the puck into the offensive zone.
Prucha, who was traded to Phoenix at the trade deadline last season, was motionless on the ice for about seven minutes before being wheeled off.
There was no penalty on the play, but this type of hit has been one of the huge hot-buttons in the NHL of late.
"All I've heard for months is how we're bearing down on head shots," Coyotes' coach Dave Tippett said. "Well, that's a clear head shot...it's a hit to the head, and you have a guy that's basically knocked out cold."
Tippett was "baffled" by the referee's non-call on the play.
Upon watching the video, I don't think it was as clear-cut as Tippett feels it was, but, he needed to say that to stick up for his player.
Prucha was released from the hospital after evaluation and is day-to-day.
The Czech is no stranger to hard, b ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Frank Castaldi
Petr Prucha Taken Off Ice on Stretcher
February 14th, 2010 by Frank Castaldi Leave a reply »
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