Ryan S ClarkNHL Reporter2 minutes to read
Dallas Stars forward Joe Pavelski had to be assisted after he was hit by Minnesota Wild defense Matt Dumbaa in the second period of the Western Conference Series quarterfinal opener.
The Stars said the 38-year-old Pavelski was in good shape after that, but his status in the next game is uncertain. The Wild defeated the Stars 3-2 to take a 1-0 series lead when Ryan Hartman scored 12:20 into the second overtime period, ending a more than four-hour game that ran early Tuesday morning.
Pavelski had just fired a backhand shot over the net with 7:58 remaining in the period when Dumba came close to a shoulder-to-shoulder collision. A dumba stick hit Pavelski in the face before both players fell to the ground, with Pavelski’s head hitting the ice.
Pavelski, 38, lay still for several seconds and was slow to move as a member of the All-Star Sports coaching staff lunged onto the ice.
Meanwhile, a feud breaks out between the two teams which results in Stars forward Max Domi becoming involved with Doumba. Domi’s right glove came off as he began swinging the dumba. Any potential fighting between the two was quickly over with two officials and Wild’s star Kirill Kaprizov getting in the way.
Pavelski managed to get down on his knees and talk to the athletic trainer before skating to the bench, accompanied by coach and Stars forward Mason Marchment. Pavelsky almost lost his balance at one point. A second member of the Stars coaching staff took over from Marchment when it came to bringing Pavelski to the back for treatment.
Dumba was initially assessed a five-minute penalty. The review changed the call to a two-minute rough misdemeanor penalty. Domi also received a harsh sentence, in addition to a misconduct penalty that was served by Ty Dellandrea.
In 2018-19, Pavelski suffered a head injury after being hit by Cody Aiken during a first round series between the San Jose Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights. Pavelski, who later told reporters he had a concussion, required eight stitches after hitting the back of his head on the ice in the third period of Game 7. Pavelski returned in Game 7 of the second-round series before the Sharks eventually advanced to the Western Conference Finals.
Information from the Associated Press is included in this report.
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