THE CANADIAN PRESS
BROSSARD, Que. — Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty has a severe concussion and a fractured vertebra from a frightening hit from Boston’s Zdeno Chara.
Canadiens coach Jacques Martin says Pacioretty fractured the fourth cervical vertebra, which is not displaced.
"He remains under observation in hospital. There is no other prognosis at this time," Martin said after practice Wednesday.
Pacioretty was wheeled off the ice with 15.8 seconds left in the second period of the Canadiens’ 4-1 victory Tuesday night.
Martin said his player "obviously be out indefinitely."
"The most important thing for our organization right now is Max’s recovery. We will continue following recommendations from the doctors and of course, Max and his immediate family would appreciate privacy in this matter," he added in a statement on the Canadiens’ website.
The 22-year-old had chipped the puck past Chara and was skating hard when the six-foot-nine Bruins defenceman rode him hard into the boards near the Boston bench at the Bell Centre.
Pacioretty’s head slammed into the glass partition between the benches. He lay motionless on the ice for several minutes before he was taken to hospital, where he spent the night.
"What I remember about it was the sound — it sounded like a gun: bang!" said Pacioretty’s linemate Scott Gomez. "Stuff like that is tough to look at."
Chara was given a major penalty for interference and a game misconduct. NHL vice-president Mike Murphy released a statement on Wednesday afternoon saying the league would not issue any further discipline for the hit.
Murphy hears cases involving Boston in place of league disciplinarian Colin Campbell, whose son, Gregory, plays for the Bruins.
