Eriksson Spends Night In Hospital After Dirty Hit By Buffalo's John Scott
BOSTON (CBS) - Boston Bruins forward Loui Eriksson spent Wednesday night in a Buffalo hospital following a dirty blind-side hit from the Sabres' John Scott late in Boston's 5-2 win.
Scott knocked Eriksson out of the game late in the third period with a blind-side elbow to the jaw, and will likely be hearing from the league given his past record. The hit came well after Eriksson had passed the puck, and Scott was given a five-minute major for charging. He was assessed another five minute fighting major for tussling with Boston defenseman Adam McQuaid, who wanted to let Scott know the Bruins did not appreciate the hit.
Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli said after the game that Eriksson would remain in Buffalo overnight for precautionary reasons, and would return to Boston on Thursday.
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Following the win, the Bruins were frustrated with the fact they may be without their talented second-line forward, while Buffalo may only lose their enforcer for a few games.
"The referees called it the way everybody saw it. It's unfortunate. The guy who did it did his job tonight," head coach Claude Julien said after the game. "He's there for two reasons, to fight or to hurt. He did both."
Julien further displayed his disgust with Scott, who is well known as a goon/enforcer around the league, and said no one should draw comparisons from Milan Lucic's hit on Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller last season.
"It's disappointing that a key player gets hurt. I know there is history here, but it's a guy [in Scott] that plays about two or three minutes a game, and he targets one of our best players with that kind of thing," said Julien. "It's something I'm sure people will use as a [Ryan] Miller example. I'm not sure Lucic is a three minute guy, but whatever."
Toucher & Rich discuss the hit:
Toucher & Rich: John Scott's Hit On Loui Eriksson
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"It is what it is, and it's unfortunate," said Julien.
The Bruins are right back in action Thursday night, hosting the San Jose Sharks at the TD Garden.
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