Habs’ Danault leaves hospital after scare
MONTREAL The Montreal Canadiens announced Sunday that Phillip Danault has been released from hospital and returned home after taking a slapshot in the head during Saturday night’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins at the Bell Centre.
With 1:37 left in the second period, Bruins captain Zdeno Chara wound up and blasted a shot from the blue-line. Danault, who was standing at the top of the faceoff circle, turned his head slightly and took a direct hit on the right side of his helmet. Danault appeared to be unconscious and lay on the ice for several minutes while being tended to by Canadiens head athletic therapist Graham Rynbend.
Danault was taken off the ice on a gurney and then taken by ambulance to hospital, where he spent the night. The 24-year-old from Victoriaville, Que., was reevaluated Sunday morning before returning home.
During the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast, it was reported that Chara’s slapshot was clocked at 123 kilometres an hour.
Danault did not take part in the Canadiens’ annual open public practice Sunday morning at the Bell Centre. Neither did Andrew Shaw, who took a therapy day, and Shea Weber, who has missed the last 10 games with a foot injury. Weber was spotted leaving the Bell Centre after practice wearing a plastic boot cast on his left foot.
“I texted him last night, no response, obviously,” Canadiens forward Jonathan Drouin said about Danault after Sunday’s practice. “He was going through a lot of stuff yesterday at the hospital, but it’s just nice to see he’s already home and recovering already. It was nice to see he was conscious last night and today’s another big step leaving the hospital.
“It’s disturbing,” Drouin added about watching Danault take the shot off the head. “You put hockey aside for a bit. It was nice to see the Boston players that stayed out (on the ice) and showed respect. I think the league is like that now — every guy cares for each other.”