Nico Sturm will be out of the Minnesota Wild for at least a week after a scary moment on Monday.
The forward was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday after he was hit in the head by a puck in their game against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Wild announced.
Sturm was taken to hospital for precautionary evaluation on Monday.
Sturm was inadvertently struck on the right side of his helmet by a slap shot by teammate Jared Spurgeon in the first period of Minnesota's 4-2 victory. The crowd that was roaring after the Wild built a three-goal lead went eerily silent when Sturm dropped to the ice, where he was tended to by team medical staff before slowly skating off with assistance.
The 31-year-old Sturm has mostly played centre in his career, but he has been filling in on the fourth line with veterans Marcus Foligno and Nick Foligno both sidelined by unspecified injuries.
In a corresponding move Tuesday, the Wild called up former Calgary Flames forward Justin Kirkland from AHL Iowa.
The Wild face the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday.
— with files from AP.
