TORONTO — John Tavares says the NHL’s concussion spotter pulled him from time beyond regulation on Saturday night time with the Toronto Maple Leafs one shot away from eliminating the Ottawa Senators.
Tavares stayed down on the ice for a number of seconds after taking an unpenalized hit to the top from Ottawa’s Artem Zub on his first shift of the additional interval — triggering his necessary removing from the sport underneath NHL guidelines.
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Tavares wound up lacking greater than 10 minutes of sport time, together with the whole thing of a four-minute Maple Leafs energy play, and was fully unaware of what was taking place on the ice at Canadian Tire Centre whereas receiving a whole SCAT5 analysis in a again room.
“I had no concept that there was an influence play,” Tavares stated Monday. “I used to be clearly pulled out and I needed to undergo the protocol.”
The NHL’s “Concussion Analysis and Administration Protocol” requires the necessary removing of a participant who takes a direct blow to the top and displays any of 4 seen indicators that might point out a doable concussion: mendacity immobile on the ice; motor incoordination or steadiness issues; clean or vacant look; and/or being sluggish to rise up.
It’s the workforce’s duty to take away a participant from the sport on the concussion spotter’s discretion and administer an acute analysis in a distraction-free atmosphere — sometimes known as the “quiet room.”
That take a look at normally takes about quarter-hour.
Tavares was solely on the ice for a number of seconds in time beyond regulation earlier than getting levelled by Zub in entrance of the Senators web. He was skating into the slot space and on the lookout for a possible move when the defenceman caught him in an unsuspecting place together with his proper forearm.
“I don’t suppose I actually need to elucidate it,” Tavares stated Monday. “It’s fairly apparent what occurred on the play. The puck’s nowhere close to me. However simply transfer on from it and go on the market and preserve competing and belief that the refs are going to make the fitting calls.”
The Leafs have been reluctant to touch upon the hit instantly following a 4-3 loss on Saturday night time, however opened up about their displeasure whereas getting ready for one more likelihood to eradicate the Senators in Sport 5.
“I don’t just like the hit,” stated Leafs coach Craig Berube. “Puck’s nowhere close to him. Regarded like a head shot to me.”
“That’s a troublesome one,” Mitch Marner stated. “You’re to see why nothing will get known as on that, however that’s typically how the play goes. Johnny’s nice and able to go, in order that’s all that issues.”
Tavares is tied for the sequence lead with three targets and has 5 factors by means of 4 video games.
He took half in a expertise session with participant growth coach Patrick O’Sullivan on Monday morning and was a full participant within the observe that adopted.
“I really feel good,” Tavares stated. “Slightly little bit of soreness simply in my jaw and cheek space, however I felt good. Felt good on the ice right now.”
Given what was at stake when he was faraway from Saturday’s sport, it should not have felt too good to be taken off the bench by the concussion spotter following a 17-second shift to start time beyond regulation.
Tavares has scored three playoff time beyond regulation targets throughout his profession — together with the series-clincher for the Leafs once they beat the Tampa Bay Lighting in 2023, and a series-clincher for the New York Islanders towards the Florida Panthers in 2016.
Teammate Chris Tanev stated of Tavares: “I’m positive he wasn’t very thrilled.”
Tanev then added an necessary caveat: “If you happen to don’t suppose you’re feeling properly you’re clearly grateful for in all probability them to drag you off. Positively plenty of guys in all probability simply preserve taking part in. If you happen to really feel nice, you’re in all probability not going to be thrilled to be sitting within the room for some time.”
Berube acknowledged how powerful the timing was, however stated he helps the efforts of the league to ensure the taking part in atmosphere is as protected as doable.
“It’s necessary,” he stated. “You’ve bought to ensure guys are OK. It’s in all sports activities, proper? It’s necessary to try this.
“Nothing you are able to do about it.”
(Picture of John Tavares celebrating his Sport 4 purpose: Steve Russell / Toronto Star by way of Getty Photographs)
