What started out with a hit that didn’t look that unusual turned ugly quickly in Sunday’s game between the Los Angeles Kings and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Midway through the third period, Kings forward Jeff Carter hit Columbus’ Nick Foligno into the boards along the Kings’ bench. Foligno continued to be pressed against the boards as both players moved forward, but a linesman was sitting on the Kings’ wall to avoid the play. Foligno’s head appeared to collide into the linesman and the 26-year-old forward fell to the ice.
After being evaluated, he was taken off the ice on a stretcher. He was alert and able to speak with the medical staff, per the Blue Jackets’ Twitter feed. He will continue to be examined at the Staples Center.
Columbus' Foligno goes off ice on stretcher with a neck brace on. Lifted his right hand to wave to teammates/clapping fans.
— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) October 26, 2014
Update: Blue Jackets president John Davidson said that Foligno “will be fine,” according to the Kings on Twitter.