Berard May Lose Sight in Right Eye

Toronto Maple Leaf defenseman Bryan Berard is in danger of losing the sight in his right eye, which was hit by a stick during a game against Ottawa Saturday night at Kanata, Canada.

Marian Hossa was following through on a shot when his stick struck Berard.

“As soon as we saw him get hit, we knew it was very, very serious,” Berard’s father Wally said, after arriving Sunday at Ottawa Airport from Boston. “We just saw the big pile of blood.”

Berard, in his fourth NHL season, crumpled to his knees with his forehead on the ice in a pool of blood. He was taken from Corel Centre on a stretcher and rushed to Ottawa Civic Hospital, where he underwent surgery.

“The prospect of regaining vision in the eye is slim but further evaluation will take place,” the Maple Leafs said in a recorded message.

Berard, who turned 23 March 5, might be released from the hospital today so that he can return to Toronto, said his agent, Tom Laidlaw.

“It’s not too positive, but until we’ve pursued all angles that we can pertaining to specialists, I don’t think anybody has given up hope yet,” Laidlaw said. “But obviously it is a pretty serious injury.”

It is suspected the orbital bone surrounding the eye was broken and Berard, who does not wear a visor, might have also suffered a cut to his eyeball.

“He was living his dream,” Wally Berard said. “Now I think this might be the end of his career.”

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In Sunday’s games: Tony Amonte scored three goals as Chicago beat Tampa Bay, 4-1, at Tampa, Fla.; Mike Modano extended his scoring streak to nine games with two assists as Dallas won, 4-2, over St. Louis at Dallas; Doug Gilmour, acquired Friday from Chicago, had two assists in his Buffalo debut, sparking a 4-2 victory over the New York Islanders at Buffalo; rookie defenseman Karlis Skrastins scored the game-winner in the third period as Nashville posted a 4-3 victory over Edmonton at Nashville; Jeff O’Neill scored two goals as Carolina beat Atlanta, 5-1, at Raleigh, N.C.; and Joe Sakick had a goal and an assist as Colorado beat Philadelphia, 3-1, at Denver.

Around the League

Dallas goalie Ed Belfour is expected to rejoin the Stars Tuesday, having been cleared by NHL officials who oversee the league’s substance-abuse policy. His next start has yet to be determined. Belfour hasn’t played since he was arrested last Wednesday for aggravated assault on a hotel security guard and resisting arrest. He has not been suspended by the NHL or the Stars. . . . Tampa Bay signed all-star defenseman Petr Svoboda to a multiyear deal. Svoboda played in his 1,000th game Sunday.