New York Rangers forward Eric Staal has left Saturday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings with an apparent head injury after a collision with teammate Jesper Fast.
Late in the second period, Staal went down on one knee to win a faceoff in the Detroit end when Fast cut into the circle and clipped Staal’s head/neck area.
Staal stayed down for quite some time before being helped off the ice and into the Rangers dressing room. The team has since confirmed that he will not return.
The Rangers will finish the season either third in the Metropolitan Division or in the Eastern Conference’s first wild-card spot.
Staal was brought in at the trade deadline after spending his entire 12-year NHL career with the Carolina Hurricanes.
He has three goals and three assists in 19 games since joining the Rangers, and 13 goals and 26 points in total.
