Ryan Dzingel was in the wrong place at the wrong time in what became a very scary moment for the Senators forward Saturday, though it sounds like the situation could have been much worse.
Midway through the third period, Dzingel was struck in the back of the head by a Mike Hoffman shot. Dzingel fell to the ice and remained down for about two minutes before he was helped off by trainers to the locker room. He did not return to the game, which the Senators lost, 2-1.
After the game, Senators head coach Guy Boucher made it sound like Dzingel avoided a serious injury.
"Right now, he's fine," Boucher said. "We'll see tomorrow; we'll see what the final analysis is. More fear than anything for now. It's something you don't want to see, obviously."
Really scary moment as Dzingel gets hit in the back of the helmet by a one-timer. Luckily it hit Alex Wennberg on the way and slowed it down. pic.twitter.com/WYr2UaiAsf
— Evan Sporer (@ev_sporer) March 18, 2018
The play began with an offensive zone faceoff, which the Senators won. Ottawa worked the puck around the zone before Hoffman was fed for a one-timer just above the faceoff circle. His shot glanced off the glove of Blue Jackets forward Alexander Wennberg, slowing it down but also redirecting it into the direction of Hoffman's head. The puck hit the Senators forward in the back of the helmet, appearing to knock his number of the protective gear.
Dzingel has played 68 games this season and has scored a career-high 20 goals, which ranks tied for second among Senators skaters.