Devastating hit

By Rich Hammond on March 1, 2008 6:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) |

With 28.5 seconds left in the period, Colorado's Ryan Smyth took a very unfortunate hit. Jack Johnson delivered a check, one that wasn't particularly vicious, but the hit took place right where the benches end and the boards begin. Smyth appeared to be out cold for at least a few moments, then was awake and moving his arms and legs. (I did see him moving his legs a bit, when I went back to replay it). The medical staff is securing his neck and putting him on a stretcher board at the moment.

2 Comments

TSandstrom said:

Rich,
Thanks for your dedication and hard work. The hit was not dirty, but looks like bad timing for Smyth. Klemms shove was not good. Nobody wants to see someone taken off on a stretcher.
Jack is really hustling out there and even though he makes some defensive mistakes, he IS only a rookie. I really like the track he is on, and with a little bit more experience he will be amazing!

March 1, 2008 7:04 PM

Anonymous said:

Rich, thanks for the continuous updates

March 1, 2008 7:13 PM

J.P. Hoornstra writes about NHL and IHL hockey for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group. He welcomes any and all dialogue on the finer points of hockey. E-mail J.P. at jp.hoornstra
@inlandnewspapers.com.

Jill Painter joined the Daily News in 2000 and during the last eight years she's covered the Dodgers, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Kings, golf and everything in between. Even though she's from Colorado, she still freezes in the Staples Center press box but always manages to thaw her fingers in time to make deadline. E-mail Jill at jill.painter@dailynews
.com.