On-ice moments don’t get much scarier than what happened at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Saturday.
Late in the second period in a game between the Montreal Canadiens and the visiting Boston Bruins, Zdeno Chara took a one-timer from the point that got high in a hurry and caught Canadiens forward Phillip Danault in the side of the head.
Danault laid on the ice for several minutes before a stretcher made its way out onto the ice.
Players on both teams, refs and fans stood nearly silent as the Canadiens trainers worked with Danault.
Man.....that is difficult to see. Players, officials, fans....everyone wishing the best for Phil Danault. pic.twitter.com/MH1XfffeOM
— Dan Robertson (@DanRTSN) January 14, 2018
Pucks traveling at high speeds are inherently dangerous, but that doesn’t make plays like this any less difficult to watch.
Nobody knows the velocity of Chara’s shot better than the man himself. And Chara looked devastated by what laid in from of him.
Chara stood by Danault throughout the whole ordeal, and when they got him up on the stretcher and ready to wheel him out, Chara kneeled down and said some words to the Canadiens forward.
#NHLBruins captain Zdeno Chara is massive, powerful and he plays the game very hard. His shot is a weapon. That he never moved while #Habs Phillip Danault was tended to, then wheeled off the ice on a stretcher, speaks to who he is as a man
— Dave Stubbs 🇨🇦 (@Dave_Stubbs) January 14, 2018
UPDATE: The Canadiens tweeted out that Danault has been taken to the hospital due to a head injury. They say he’s moving and awake.
Mise à jour: P. Danault a subi une blessure à la tête. Il a été conduit à l’hôpital pour passer des tests approfondis. Il est conscient et alerte.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 14, 2018
Medical update: P. Danault suffered a head injury. He was taken to the hospital for further exams. He is awake and moving.
Refs stopped the game with 1:37 left in the period, sending both teams to their respective rooms for an early intermission and resumed the game following the break with 1:37 left.
UPDATE: According to the Canadiens, Danault is at home resting after being released from hospital.
Here’s what Chara had to say after the game:
Here are Zdeno Chara's comments on what was going through his mind and how he felt about unfortunately taking a shot that hit Phillip Danault up high in Habs-Bruins game: pic.twitter.com/KqbEFMA7NA
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) January 14, 2018
Scott Billeck is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @scottbilleck