Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev was taken to hospital after an on-ice collision with another player Saturday night. Victory over Philadelphia with a score of 5:2. but he had movement in all his limbs, trainer Craig Berube said.
Tanev collided with Philadelphia forward Matvey Michkov with 11:37 left in the game. The contact occurred shoulder to shoulder, but Tanev's head was thrown back upon contact, leaving him face down on the ice.
Trainers tended to him and stabilized his head and neck before lifting him onto a stretcher and wheeling him off the ice. It was Tanev's first game after missing four games with a concussion. Michkov was given a minor for interfering with the game.
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After the game, Berube said Tanev was taken to a Philadelphia hospital for evaluation and had movement in all of his extremities. He said there was a chance Tanev would fly home to Toronto with the team.
“He’s moving and I think he’ll be fine,” Berube said. “He's getting tested, so we'll see. Maybe he'll come home with us.”
Tanev had an assist on Jake McCabe's goal in the second period.
“Honestly, it's a tough feeling because he's such an integral part of this team,” said Auston Matthews, who scored the winning goal. “Every time the stretcher comes out, it's a bad feeling deep down. Obviously, we all think about him, pray for him and hope for the best.”
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