Wisniewski taken off on stretcher with injury

Wednesday, 05.06.2009 / 12:21 AM
NHL.com Staff
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Anaheim Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski left the ice on a stretcher late in the second period of Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night.

Wisniewski was hit in the chest with a shot taken by Detroit center Pavel Datsyuk during an extended shift in the Anaheim zone. The 25-year-old defenseman, who was a key Deadline Day acquisition by the Ducks, was taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange County.

Wisniewski was diagnosed with a lung contusion. A team spokesman said Wisniewski will remain at the hospital overnight as a precautionary measure and is doing well.

"Wiz is a tough kid," Anaheim center Todd Marchant said. "Hopefully he’s OK. It’s part of the game. He's not the first person that’s ever had that happen to and he’s not going to be the last."

Wisniewski appeared to be alert but in a lot of pain as he was carted off with 6:11 to play in the period. He was also bloodied by an elbow to the mouth that he received from Red Wings forward Tomas Holmstrom before play was stopped.

Scott Niedermayer was called for a penalty on the play and Henrik Zetterberg scored on the ensuing power play to cut the Ducks’ lead to 2-1, the same score by which the Ducks won the game.

"He took a pretty good elbow after the fact, too," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said. "The puck shot to the upper chest area was enough but when you’re huddled over and somebody gives you a good, stiff elbow to the chin, it's a little bit surprising."

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