Zednik 'stable' after neck gash surgery

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BUFFALO, N.Y., Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Florida Panthers forward Richard Zednik was listed in stable condition Monday at a Buffalo, N.Y., hospital following surgery to repair a severed carotid artery.

Midway through the third period of Sunday's game against the Buffalo Sabres, Zednik was cut on the right side of his neck by a skate of Florida's Olli Jokinen as Jokinen was falling, creating a gash that bled profusely. A crowd of nearly 19,000 was silenced by the sight of Zednik trailing blood.

Zednik immediately skated to the Florida bench and team medical staff took him to the locker room. The Buffalo News reported it took 10 minutes to stop the flow of blood. Zednik was then taken to Buffalo General Hospital where he underwent surgery.

"Blood was coming out of his throat and I was right there," Jokinen told the News. "At first I didn't know it was my skate because I fell down. I saw the replay on the TV, and I've never seen anything like it.

"There's a lot of freaky injuries in hockey. If you hurt your knee or break your arm, it's nothing. This is an injury where you can die. It's crazy."