BOSTON (AP) — Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman 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 center 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.
