Zednik’s life wasn’t in danger, doctors say

Florida Panthers forward Richard Zednik lost five units of blood, but doctors never considered his life in jeopardy after the player had his carotid artery nearly severed by a teammate’s skate in a freak and frightening accident.

Zednik underwent an hour of surgery to reconnect the artery Sunday night and was listed in stable condition in the intensive care unit at Buffalo (N.Y.) General Hospital on Monday. He was awake and cooperative with the medical staff, doctors said.

Attending surgeon Sonya Noor said there were no initial signs of brain damage, which is a fear whenever the carotid artery is clamped. She said clamps were in place for about 15 to 20 minutes during surgery, which she considers a short time.

“So far, he looks very good. He’s awake, oriented,” said Noor. “He remembers what happened last night.”

Zednik was sliced across the right side of the throat by teammate Olli Jokinen’s skate midway through the third period of Buffalo’s 5-3 victory. Doctors said the skate blade just missed cutting the jugular vein.

According to Noor, the slashed artery was “hanging by a thread.” She stressed if the artery had been completely severed it would have recessed into the neck, requiring even more extensive surgery.

Zednik will remain in intensive care at least one more day, but it is uncertain when he will be discharged and allowed to return to Florida, Noor said. It will be six to eight weeks before he can return to normal activity.

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The Ottawa Senators acquired forward Cory Stillman and defenseman Mike Commodore from the Carolina Hurricanes for forward Patrick Eaves and defenseman Joe Corvo.

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Philadelphia Flyers forward Simon Gagne is sidelined following his third concussion of the season, yet the former All-Star hopes to return before the end of the season.

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Police say two Montreal Canadiens players were arrested outside a Tampa, Fla., nightclub. Defenseman Ryan O’Byrne, 23, has been accused of stealing a woman’s purse, and right wing Thomas Kostopoulos, 29, has been charged with resisting an officer, a Tampa police report says.

O’Byrne has been charged with felony grand theft. He was released Monday after posting $2,000 bail.

Kostopoulos faces a misdemeanor count of resisting an officer without violence and was freed after posting $500 bail.