The Post-Gazette reports that the Tampa Bay Lightning's Martin St. Louis received a double root canal late on Wednesday after being struck in the face with a stick by Penguins defenseman Zbynek Michalek in Game One of the two teams' NHL playoff series.
"I'm just happy it wasn't higher. It might have concussed me," St. Louis said. "So I'll take the teeth instead of the concussion" ...
Michalek was not penalized. St. Louis, who was low to the ice when he got hit, seemed to think Michalek should have been but declined to say so directly.
"He just swung his stick, careless a bit with his stick," St. Louis said. "It is what it is."
It sounds like St. Louis has calmed down a bit. During the game he looked furious, and understandably so, ranting and raving even as you could see the blood in his mouth. While it doesn't sound like he's completely over it, implying that Michalek should have kept better control over his stick, it also doesn't sound like this will be a big deal in the series going forward. Here's hoping for a quick recovery for St. Louis.