Pittsburgh Penguins' Brooks Orpik is taken off the ice after being injured in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins in Boston, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
December 07, 2013 - 5:11 PM
BOSTON - Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik was taken off the ice on a stretcher after being pulled down and punched by Boston's Shawn Thornton in the opening period.
Orpik was in a scrum with a few Penguins players with Boston's Gregory Campbell in the Pittsburgh defensive end of the ice with 8:54 left in the period.
Boston's Brad Marchand was injured on the other end and Thornton came skating up quickly from centre ice and grabbed Orpik from behind, knocking him down backward before throwing a punch. Orpik appeared to hit his head on the ice when he fell. Thornton was given a match penalty.
Players immediately called for medical assistance for Orpik. He was surrounded by members of both team's medical staff before he was taken off on a stretcher after about a 10-minute delay.
Pittsburgh's James Neal was assessed a kneeing penalty for his hit on Marchand.
News from © The Associated Press, 2013