Panthers goalie Vokoun injured by teammates stick
Florida Panthers goaltender Tomas Vokoun was taken off the ice on a stretcher after being accidentally hit in the head by the stick of teammate Keith Ballard in the opening period of Monday nights game against the Atlanta Thrashers.
Vokoun had a cut on his ear but was alert when he was placed in an ambulance and taken to a local hospital, a Panthers spokesman said.
Vakoun is going to be fine, Florida coach Peter DeBoer said after a 4-3 loss to the Thrashers.
There was no internal ear damage, just a laceration, Panthers general manager Randy Sexton said. Vokoun will meet the team at the airport and fly home with them, he said.
It will be determined Tuesday whether Vakoun will be available for Floridas next game, at home against Colorado on Wednesday, Sexton said.
The injury occurred after Atlantas Ilya Kovalchuk scored a goal at 8:54 of the first period, knocking in his own rebound. In apparent frustration, Ballard swung his stick at the net, inadvertently striking Vokoun in the head.
Vokoun was wheeled off the ice after about a 10-minute delay.