Simon Gagne of the Tampa Bay Lightning has a history of head and concussion injuries, so when his head smacked the Verizon Center ice in the first period of Game 1 against the Washington Capitals, the concern was more than just amplified.
Heading towards the boards with Scott Hannan, Gagne absorbed a hit and fell to the ice. He stayed there, motionless for quite some time as the crowd looked on in silence. It appeared that Gagne's head made contact with the glass on the hit and then the ice on the way down as Hannan lifted him from his feet, but it wasn't the type of nasty hit to the head we've come to expect in these situations.
Here's video, via CSNWashington.com.
After a few minutes, the stretcher came out, but eventually Gagne was able to work his way to his feet and off the ice. The Lightning announced he's "alert and coherent" in the locker room and there's a report that he called his wife to assure her that he's in good shape. Obviously, a good sign.
There's no word on whether or not he'll return to the game, although you'd have to lean towards thinking he won't be back, at least in Game 1. Guy Boucher and the Lightning are down to just 10 forwards after dressing seven defensemen in the game.
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