Video via KK: I’m not sure what to think about this one. David Backes, something of a notorious head-hunter in Wings-Blues history, caught his shoulder on Frans Nielsen’s chin with this hit, and Nielsen left the game:
Per DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji:
It started out as a pretty good night for Red Wings center Frans Nielsen.
Nielsen cut the Boston Bruins’ lead to 2-1 at 2:16 of the first period when captain Henrik Zetterberg found him in the slot. Nielsen beat Boston goaltender Anton Khudobin glove-side. It was his 14th goal of the season and 150th of his career.
Unfortunately, Nielsen was not able to build on that as David Backes hit him in the Detroit end along the boards with 11.2 second left in the first period.
Detroit athletic trainer Piet Van Zant rushed to Nielsen’s side and helped him off the ice.
Update:
#RedWings Blashill said he did not have an update on Nielsen.
— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) March 7, 2018
Jeff Blashill didn’t have update on Frans Nielsen (upper body) but said “I assume he might be out for a little bit but I don’t know that answer.” #RedWings
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) March 7, 2018
Henrik Zetterberg on David Backes’ hit on Frans Nielsen: “It’s an unnecessary hit to the head.”
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) March 7, 2018
Update: Here’s more from St. James:
“It’s an unnecessary hit to the head,” Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg said.
Asked about Nielsen’s status, Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill did not have much of an update.
“I assume he might be out for a little bit but I don’t know that answer,” Blashill said. He did not now if Nielsen had to undergo concussion protocol.
Nielsen scored his 14th goal of the season in the game. He averages nearly 16 minutes on the ice per game, and is one of the team’s best penalty killers. Over the past few games, he has also appeared on the power play.
“He’s a big piece of us,” Zetterberg said. “That was a big loss for us.”
Maybe this will be the “manufactured” injury Fatty was alluding to allowing the Wings an emergency call up.