Blue Jackets Sean Kuraly Says he Couldn't Breathe When he Left Game Last Saturday

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TJ Tucker
December 29, 2023 (12:57)

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The whole sequence left many people with a lot of questions. Sean Kuraly of the Columbus Blue Jackets has now explained what happened that caused him to leave a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs last Saturday.

Kuraly left the game in obvious distress after what seemed like a minor looking play near the boards. It caused quite the commotion as he collapsed at the Columbus bench and needed help getting to the back.

It turns out that Kuraly got the buttend of his own stick hard in the abdomen while trying to battle Auston Matthews and Jake McCabe. He said the incident left him gasping for air.

"#CBJ Sean Kuraly said he was struggling to breathe when he left the ice in distress last Saturday vs. #LeafsForever. Was light-headed, but never lost consciousness. Praised the docs and first responders who gave him immediate care in Nationwide Arena.

Kuraly was checked for internal injuries ... lungs, spleen, heart, internal bleeding after butt end of his stick jammed his abdomen after a hit along the end boards by #LeafsForever Auston Matthews and Jake McCabe. Tests both in Nationwide and later at hospital were negative."

Kuraly told reporters he was definitely worried at first, but it turned out not to be serious.

"It was a bit of a scare, obviously, and then found out pretty quickly it wasn't anything serious. But right off the bat, a bit of a scare."

Kuraly's official diagnosis in an abdominal contusion. He is listed as day-to-day meaning he should be back in the lineup soon, but it won't be tonight against the Leafs or tomorrow against the Buffalo Sabres.