Scary hit to head forces Minnesota Wild player to leave the game
During the second period of last night's game between the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues, Joel Eriksson Ek took a hard hit to the head, forcing him to leave the game.
The play looks mostly accidental, with Eriksson Ek looking away from the play as he runs into Noel Acciari, as he dodged a Wild defender. It's possible that Acciari pops his shoulder out a bit to make contact, but regardless of whether it's incidental or not, the shoulder makes direct contact with Eriksson Ek' Shaw in ugly fashion.
Eriksson Ek takes most of the impact directly in the face, and after recollecting himself on the ice, he left the game momentarily. He would luckily return for the third period, but it wouldn't help the team much. St. Louis closed the game out, 3-0.
Knowing the NHL Department of Player Safety doesn't really like to make waves out of fluke hits, it's unlikely there'll be any discipline for a seemingly inadvertent hit, and with no lasting injury on the play. Blues fans can be happy Acciari won't be suspended, and Wild fans can be thankful for a healthy Eriksson Ek.
![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates scoring against Team Canada during the first period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/531742.webp "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates scoring against Team Canada during the first period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images")
