Minnesota Wild defenseman Keith Ballard spent Tuesday night in the hospital after he was on the wrong end of a scary collision with New York Islanders forward Matt Martin. Ballard, who ended up going face-first into the boards, has since been released after being diagnosed with a concussion and multiple facial fractures according to the Wild. He will remain out of the lineup indefinitely.
Ballard appeared to be unconscious for a brief period on the ice following the hit from Martin. A stretcher was brought out, but he left the ice on his feet, with assistance.
Here's another look at the hit with multiple angles:
The Minnesota rearguard has had some terrible luck this season. He is one of the several NHL players to have been hit with the mumps and missed eight games as a result of the illness, the most of anyone that has contracted the virus to date. Now it looks like he could be gone for quite a bit longer.
According to Darren Dreger of TSN, Ballard may require surgery for his facial fractures, but doctors must first wait until the swelling subsides before they can make that final decision.
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety will not be disciplining Martin for his hit on Ballard according to Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
That Martin won't have a hearing isn't particularly surprising given the way Ballard turned just before receiving the hit. The Islanders forward may have come in a bit late, but Ballard has ample time to brace for contact. Unfortunately, he ended up turning into a prone position that resulted in the scary scene on the Xcel Energy Center ice Tuesday.
