DANAULT OUT OF HOSPITAL

Hurt by slapshot to his head

The Canadiens announced on 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 head off his helmet. Danault 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 a hospital, where he spent the night. Danault was reevaluated Sunday morning before returning home.

Hockey Night in Canada on CBC and Sportsnet reported Chara’s slapshot was clocked at 123 km/h.

“I texted him last night, no response, obviously,” the Canadiens’ 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 slapshot 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. Like I said, you just put hockey aside for a bit there.

“I’m probably going to go see him today,” Drouin added as he prepared to leave the Bell Centre.