UPDATE: The Fox Sports Detroit crew reports that Marian Hossa is still in the hospital, but tests so far have been negative. Breathe a little easier, Wings fans. - 10:50 PMThe Red Wings got a huge scare Tuesday night in St. Louis when Hossa, back in the lineup after missing two games with a neck injury, went head-first into the boards after losing his balance following a check. Hossa was taken off the ice on a stretcher.
After taking a shot on net from the left circle, the Wings' leading goal-getter was checked by St. Louis' Roman Polak and lost his balance, leading to a scary sight at Scottrade Center.
Hossa tumbled into the boards, clutched his head with his hands and lay still along the wall. The Detroit training staff rushed over, and EMS came onto the ice to help out, and eventually took him off the ice on the stretcher. He got a nice round of applause from the Blues fans, and gave a wave to let them know he was all right.
Fortunately for Hossa, he also didn't lose consciousness, according to a team spokesman, and was taken to a local hospital for precautionary reasons. Ex-NHL defenseman Mark Howe, who works as a Detroit scout, told the Detroit Free Press he thought it might be a stinger and not as serious at it initially looked.
Hossa, who was a big boost to the Penguins at least year's trade deadline, is leading Detroit with 34 goals this season.
Latest NHL Images
Nashville Predators center Jason Arnott, left, is congratulated by teammates Steve Sullivan (26), Shea Weber, second from right, and J.P. Dumont (71) after Arnott scored the game-winning goal against the Edmonton Oilers in the overtime period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 3, 2009. The Predators won 6-5. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
AP
Minnesota Wild's Antti Miettinen, of Finland, has the stick of Vancouver Canucks' goalie Roberto Luongo (not pictured) caught in his skate during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia on Tuesday, March 3, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)
AP
Minnesota Wild's Peter Olvecky, of Slovakia, from left, Colton Gillies and Dan Fritsche celebrate Fritsche's goal as Marc-Andre Bergeron, bottom, skates to join them during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks in Vancouver, British Columbia on Tuesday, March 3, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)
AP
TORONTO - MARCH 3: Alexei Ponikarovsky #23 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates the puck away from Bobby Holik #16 of the New Jersey Devils during game action March 3, 2009 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alexei Ponikarovsky;Bobby Holik
NHLI via Getty Images
TORONTO - MARCH 3: Ian White #7 of the Toronto Maple Leafs battles with Patrik Elias #26 of the New Jersey Devils in front of goalie Vesa Toskala #35 during game action March 3, 2009 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ian White;Patrik Elias;Vesa Toskala
NHLI via Getty Images
TORONTO - MARCH 3: Pavel Kubina #77 and Vesa Toskala #35 of the Toronto Maple Leafs defend against Zach Parise #9 of the New Jersey Devils during game action March 3, 2009 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Pavel Kubina;Vesa Toskala;Zach Parise
NHLI via Getty Images
TORONTO - MARCH 3: Vesa Toskala #35 of the Toronto Maple Leafs is scored on with Zach Parise #9 of the New Jersey Devils on the door step during game action March 3, 2009 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Vesa Toskala;Zach Parise
NHLI via Getty Images
TORONTO - MARCH 3: Alexei Ponikarovsky #23 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates off the ice with blood running down his chin during game action against the New Jersey Devils March 3, 2009 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alexei Ponikarovsky
NHLI via Getty Images
Vancouver Canucks' Henrik Sedin, left, of Sweden, celebrates a goal by Alex Burrows (not pictured) as Minnesota Wild's Niklas Backstrom, of Finland, lays on the ice during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia on Tuesday, March 3, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)
AP
Vancouver Canucks' Kevin Bieksa (foreground) and Minnesota Wild's Colton Gillies collide during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia on Tuesday, March 3, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)
AP
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-04-2009 @ 10:40AM
Laura Stiffler said...
I was at the game last night and sit right where they took Hossa out on the stretcher. He waved to the crowd to let us know he was okay but it was really scary for a few minutes. I'm a Blues fan but no one wants a player to be carried out on a stretcher. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Reply
3-04-2009 @ 3:40PM
Paula said...
I hear ya. We're from Detroit and were at a game a few years back when Chris Pronger got nailed good at mid-ice and hit fell hard. It was pretty scary, but we all cheered when they picked him up and waved to everyone. Like you said, nobody wants to see anybody get hurt, we just wanna see good hockey!