Montreal Canadiens forward Lars Eller was released from hospital on Friday after being strechered off the ice in the team’s opening game of the National Hockey League playoffs on Thursday.
The 23-year-old Danish centre was reaching back for a pass by teammate Raphael Diaz when Ottawa Senators defenseman Eric Gryba leveled him with a blind-side hit to the head in the second period.
The collision knocked out Eller for a moment. He awoke and tried to rise before medical personnel carried him off the blood-stained ice.
Eller was hospitalized after suffering a concussion as well as facial and dental fractures.
Gryba was given a five-minute major penalty for interference and a game misconduct and faced a disciplinary hearing with NHL officials on Friday.
Visiting Ottawa went on to win the opener of the best-of-seven series 4-2.
Canadiens' Eller released from hospital
