Canadiens’ Danault released from hospital after taking puck to head

Phillip Danault would need to be stretchered off after taking a puck to the head on a Zdeno Chara slap shot.

Montreal Canadiens forward Phillip Danault was released from hospital Sunday morning after undergoing medical tests for a head injury.

He was taken off the ice on a stretcher Saturday night after he was hit in the head by a Zdeno Chara point shot.

"Phillip Danault was released from the hospital earlier today and is now resting at home," the Canadiens said Sunday on Twitter.

The rising shot at 18:23 of the second period looked to hit Danault on the side of the head. He lay on the ice for several minutes but was moving and appeared to be speaking to medical staff before leaving the ice to an ovation from the Bell Centre crowd.

"It’s stuff that happens in hockey and it’s scary," defenceman Jordie Benn said after Sunday’s practice. "But Phil’s doing well."

Chara has one of the hardest shots in the league. The Bruins went on to post a 4-3 shootout victory.

It wasn’t immediately clear when Danault might return to the lineup.

"We’ve just got to wait and hopefully he can get healthy pretty quick," Benn said.

Danault, a 24-year-old native of Victoriaville, Que., was a first-round draft pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2011.

The six-foot-one 195-pounder is in his third full NHL season and usually plays on the Habs’ top line with Max Pacioretty.

Danault has seven goals and 15 assists in 43 games this season. In 178 career regular-season games, he has 24 goals and 49 assists.

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