Panthers' Zednik might be out of hospital by Saturday

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Florida Panthers forward Richard Zednik, whose carotid artery was nearly severed, might be discharged from a Buffalo hospital by Saturday.

Zednik is showing improvement after his neck was slashed, said Dr. Sonya Noor on Thursday.

Noor performed emergency surgery Sunday night after Zednik's neck was accidentally cut by the skate of teammate Olli Jokinen. Zednik lost five pints of blood in the gruesome accident, but was upgraded to good condition on Wednesday.

Zednik is showing so much improvement that Noor authorized a special treat -- Buffalo's famed chicken wings.

"He asked if he could eat Buffalo chicken wings," Noor said. "So we let him."

An eatery donated wings and pizza for Zednik, his wife and nurses at Buffalo General Hospital.

He is expected to miss the remainder of the season.