Frightening moment on Saturday night in Detroit: Patrick Eaves of the Detroit Red Wings took a puck to the side of the head on a slap shot from Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators, send him flat on his back and eventually off the ice on a stretcher.
Bill Roose of DetroitRedWings.com reports that Eaves was loaded into an ambulance and was off to the hospital as the Red Wings closed out their 4-1 win.
Said Coach Mike Babcock, via the Red Wings: "Really scary play. The puck elevated obviously. The guy wasn't trying to shoot it that high from that close."
Eaves was playing in place of the injured Cory Emmerton, returning to the lineup after five straight games as a healthy scratch. Said Eaves of the opportunity, via MLive.com:
"I've been waiting for this opportunity," said Eaves, who missed three games earlier this season with a sore back. "I've just been staying in shape and keeping my mind in hockey mode. That's all you can really do. "You can only control what you can control."
Two heartwarming moments born out of a heart-wrenching situation. First, the Red Wings faithful chanting "PATRICK EAVES" as he's loaded onto the stretcher by the arena medical staff. But also Josi, looking stunned by the turn of events, skating over and acknowledging Eaves as he left the ice.
Here's hoping he's OK. Scary scene on a gutsy play by a guy fighting to get back into the lineup. (UPDATE: From the Red Wings Twitter: "The latest on Eaves per Red Wings PR is a broken jaw. He will be kept at the Detroit Medical Center overnight for observation.")