There was a scary moment during the Lightning vs. Penguins game in Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon when the referee stopped play.
During the third period of a back-and-forth game between two Eastern Conference teams, referee Steve Kozali collided with Tampa Bay defenseman Haydn Fleury at center ice at PPG Paints Arena at 6:11 of the third period.
According to the Associated Press, Kozali was able to move his arms before being taken off the ice on a stretcher.
In a statement after the game, the NHL said Kozali was “transported to UPMC Mercy Hospital for precautionary reasons,” adding, “He is conscious, awake and has the use of all extremities and is expected to make a full recovery.” Ta.
“It was tough to watch,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said after his team lost 5-4, according to the Associated Press. “but [Fleury], went into the locker room during that hiatus. Understandably, he was a little upset. It was just one of those plays that was kind of a freak accident. But hopefully we’ll both be okay. ”
According to NHL.comKozali appeared in 1,151 regular season games and 136 postseason contests.
Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said. According to The Athleticthere was only a brief glimpse of what he called “a horrifying moment.”
“I felt it out of the corner of my eye,” Sullivan said. “I think at the last moment they collided and it was helmet to helmet. It was a really scary collision because I really don’t think Steve could have stopped the fall.
“It was a scary moment.”
