Midway through the second period of the game between the New York Rangers and the Ottawa Senators, Ottawa's Chris Neil collided awkwardly with New York's Anton Stralman. On the replay, it's clear that Stralman hit Neil skate-first in the ankle:
Chris Neil injury: Cut from skate sends Ottawa forward to dressing room
Neil needed stitches, but eventually returned to the game.
USA TODAY Sports
Neil left the ice in pain, but would eventually return to the game.
If this does turn out to be a skate-cut incident, it will be the second involving Neil and the Senators this year. Earlier this season, Neil's teammate Erik Karlsson suffered a serious cut to the leg from Matt Cooke's skate. Neil, as one of Ottawa's enforcers, went after Matt Cooke later in that game.
The Senators have had terrible injury luck this season. They’ve lost the second-most man games to injuries in the league, and are somehow holding on to the fifth seed in the East regardless.
UPDATE: The injury has been confirmed to be a cut from Stalman’s skate:
Neil got cut on his left ankle by Stralman's skate. Needed several stitches and was cut to the bone. Called it a "fluke accident".
— Ian Mendes (@ian_mendes) March 29, 2013
More in the NHL:
See More:
