Boston Bruins' forward Loui Eriksson left the Bruins' game against the Pittsburgh Penguins just :21 in after taking a huge floor check from defenseman Brooks Orpik that pancaked Eriksson to the ice.
Eriksson was able to make it back to the bench on his own power during the stop in play when captain Zdeno Chara came to his defense, cross checking Orpik while trying to goad Orpik into fisticuffs, but seemed dazed as he sat, so the training staff escorted him to the locker room for evaluation.
Eriksson, who give up about 25 pounds to the rugged Orpik, was blindsided by the otherwise clean body shot.
With the score tied at 1-1, and ugly fracas began when Pittsburgh forward James Neal thrust a knee into the head of Brad Marchand who was in a prone position on the ice. Marchand spun on his knees and fell to his face, but before play could be stopped, a scrum started in the Pittsburgh zone...
Boston's Shawn Thornton skating into the scrum and, seeming to target Orpik, yanked the defensman to the ice and punched him in the head twice, knocking him cold.
Pittsburgh players immediately started waving frantically toward the medical staff who came onto the ice and called for the stretcher at once.
Thornton received a match penalty, and is most likely looking at a lengthy suspension. More on the status of all players involved as word becomes available.
http://www.sportsinjuryalert.com/2013/12/bruins-eriksson-leaves-early-marshand.html
