Sean Kuraly left the Columbus Blue Jackets’ game against the Toronto Maple Leags Saturday night at Nationwide Arena with an abdominal injury that caused him to collapse behind the team's bench and brought a premature end to the first period.
The veteran forward was taken to nearby Grant Medical Center for further evaluation and was released later that night without being admitted.
Todd Sharrock, the Blue Jackets’ chief spokesman, said Kuraly, 30, was further evaluated at the hospital and “everything looked good,” before he was sent home.
Kuraly was forechecking when he was hit by defenseman Jake McCabe while battling along the end wall with Auston Matthews. McCabe's left shoulder contacted Kuraly's head and jostled his helmet, but the injury occurred when a stick struck the Blue Jackets' forward in the abdomen.
Kuraly left the ice with less than a minute left in the period and hunched over while grabbing his abdomen. Once reaching the bench, he bent to a knee before being assisted to the tunnel leading to the Jackets’ locker room.
After a few moments hunched over, Kuraly collapsed and needed assistance to make it to the locker room. Blue Jackets players immediately began shouting at officials to stop the game and a white towel was thrown into the air to get their attention. Once play was stopped, a paramedic came onto the ice from the Zamboni entrance and headed toward the Blue Jackets’ bench.
Initial updates that Kuraly had been evaluated and appeared to be fine were released before the end of the first intermission. Another was issued during the second intermission saying Kuraly sustained an abdominal injury that wasn’t thought to be serious and was taken to the medical center.
"I was told that everything should be fine, but they're checking to make sure everything is OK," Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent said. "It was a scary moment. You know what happened, the hit and then he came back to the bench, (but) then what happened in the hallway, I don't know. I just saw the trainers and the medical staff, and it was urgent. It's not fun. You don't want to see that."
The period was halted with 18.3 seconds left and the Maple Leafs leading 1-0.
That time was added to the start of the second period, but Kuraly's health was of much greater concern inside the Blue Jackets' dressing room.
"You have no idea what's going on, but when somebody waves that towel, you hope they get to him quick," Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson said. "The first little bit (during intermission) was intense, but once we got that word (he was OK), you reset and you go out and play."
Kuraly signed with the Blue Jackets as a free agent in July 2021 and is playing his third season with his hometown team. He’s a key member of the team as center of the fourth line and a veteran leader.
His teammates were relieved to get the initial report Kuraly would be fine.
“He’s a huge part of our team,” forward Justin Danforth said. “It’s a scary sport we play sometimes, and when stuff like that happens, you just remember it’s a game. You could see both teams were worried and just wanted to make sure everything was fine, but he’s good. That’s all that matters.”
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