Carolina Hurricanes goalie Eddie Lack left the team's loss to the Detroit Red Wings on a stretcher after he was run over following Detroit's game-winning goal in overtime.
Andreas Athanasiou crashed into Lack as he scored in overtime on a play that left the Hurricanes goalie with a frightening injury.
Lack remained down for several minutes before he was taken off on a stretcher, with both teams remaining on the ice and forming a semicircle to watch him. Lack flashed a thumbs-up sign as he was wheeled away. An official review determined that the puck was in the net before Athanasiou made contact with Lack.
"I had no idea I hit him,'' Athanasiou said. "I just tried driving the net, and I felt [Carolina forward Victor Rask's] stick on my back. He hit me pretty hard. I just tried to put the puck in the net, and even after, I had no idea I came in contact with him. I didn't know if it was me or [Rask].''
Lack was taken to a hospital to be checked and had movement in his arms and legs.
Lack, who finished with 23 saves for Carolina, later took to Twitter to say he was doing well and heading home.
Thanks for all thoughts and prayers🙏everything looks alright and I'll be able to go home tonight! Thanks for thinking of me👍
— Eddie Lack (@eddielack) March 28, 2017
"He's had a tough season, with injuries and all the stuff that's gone on for him," Hurricanes teammate Jordan Staal said. "To see him play as well as he has of late and to give us a chance to make a push here, it's been a lot of fun.
"Hopefully he recovers from this quick, whatever it is, and he's back on the ice very soon. He made a lot of big plays for us tonight."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
