Lundqvist hammered by Stars' Eakin but returns to record shutout
Rangers goalie sent flying after Dallas forward catches him with shoulder to the head
New York Rangers fans received a scare Thursday night when all-star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist was knocked out of the game after a crushing hit from Dallas' Cody Eakin.
NHL Player Safety announced that Eakin will have a hearing on Friday afternoon.
Cody Eakin is having a phone hearing for his hit on Lundqvist. Max suspension would be five games. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYR?src=hash">#NYR</a>
—@BrettCyrgalisDallas’ Cody Eakin will have a hearing this afternoon for charging NY Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist.
—@NHLPlayerSafetyEakin sent Lundqvist and his mask flying after catching the Swede with his shoulder behind the Rangers' net
Eakin takes Lundqvist out of the game <a href="https://t.co/7dDIpK3QfC">pic.twitter.com/7dDIpK3QfC</a>
—@myregularfaceLundqvist was forced to leave the game and was replaced briefly by backup Antti Raanta before returning to the net, leading the Rangers to a 2-0 victory.
Eakin received a five-minute charging major and a game misconduct.
"The league better do something about that hit," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. "It's everything that you want to take away from the game. A hit to the head, forward motion and it's a goaltender on top."
Stars coach Lindy Ruff defended Eakin.
"I understand the call. As a penalty killer, he's trying to gain speed so he can get back. I know it doesn't look that way, but there was no intent on his part," Ruff said.
Lundqvist said he didn't see Eakin coming at him before he was knocked to the ice. He stayed down for a bit and left the game for 5 1/2 minutes.
"[The trainer] came out and told me, 'You have to leave right away.' Did a quick test and tried to rush to come back out there, because I really wanted to play."
It was Lundqvist's first game since giving up four goals on 32 shots in a 4-3 loss to the New York Islanders on Dec. 6. Raanta had played the following four games, winning three.