By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Friday, April 29, 2011
The Tampa Bay Lightning says wing Simon Gagne is alert and being evaluated by team doctors after appearing to hit his head on the ice in the first period of Friday's Eastern Conference semifinal against the Washington Capitals.
In a scary moment for the Lightning, Gagne left the game after it appeared he hit his head hit the ice following a hit by Capitals defenseman Scott Hannan.
According to TSN, Gagne took a minute to call his wife after leaving the game.
With just under 13 minutes remaining in the first, Gagne raced to the corner in the Capitals zone to retrieve the puck, but was checked into the boards by Hannan. Gagne lost his balance and appeared to hit his head on the ice as he fell hard to the ground.
Gagne remained on the ice for a few minutes, not moving very much but talking, as Lightning training staff tended to him. A stretcher was brought out, and several teammates came to his side.
Gagne got up, and was helped off the ice, getting cheers from the Verizon Center crowd. Hannan appeared concerned, and approached Gagne as he was leaving the game.
With Gagne's history of concussions, they'll likely take this very seriously. Gagne missed most of the 2007-08 season with the Flyers due to two concussions, and had at least one other concussion earlier in his career. Gagne missed time this year due to a nerve injury, with the Lightning believing a scar-tissue mass in the muscles in the back of his neck at least contributed to it.