With 4:45 left their game against the New York Rangers on Friday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins witnessed just about the last thing they wanted to see right now: Center Jordan Staal in considerable pain after a knee-on-knee collision with former teammate Michael Rupp, having to eventually be helped from the ice.
The Rangers won the game, 3-1. As for Staal, Josh Yohe of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review offered this update on the incident:
Staal remained on the ice for about a minute and appeared to be in significant pain. He was helped off the ice and did not return. After the game, coach Dan Bylsma said he had no update on Staal's status.
"I'm in a position of turning; I've got my legs out for a wide base, and he's coming by," said Rupp, who was given a two-minute penalty for kneeing. "I try to get a piece of him. I don't move my knee to get contact, but I understand the call. ... I hope he's all right."
Staal's second among Penguins forwards in average ice time (20:23) and plays extensively on special teams. With 15 goals in 34 games, Staal's on pace for the best goal-scoring season of his career. He's one of the primary reasons why the team's been able to handle the absence of Sidney Crosby up front.
Does this warrant anything further from the NHL, or does Rupp's explanation suffice?
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