NHL off-ice official injured at Bruins’ playoff game
Joe Foley, an off-ice official, was injured during Game 3 of the first-round Stanley Cup playoff series in Boston on Friday when a panel of glass fell on him.
The Bruins were leading the Carolina Hurricanes, 3-1, in the second period when fans began repeatedly banging on the glass until it dislodged to land on the penalty-box attendant. Foley slumped immediately to the ground, appearing to be knocked out cold.
Trainers from both teams quickly came to his aid, and a stretcher was produced to transport Foley for further medical attention.
Foley had regained consciousness and was moving around as he departed the ice. Boston and Carolina players came over to check on his status during the lengthy delay of game and sent him off with a chorus of stick taps. Boston’s 4-2 victory was delayed about seven minutes after the incident.
As play resumed, a police officer stood in the stands to maintain a barrier. NHL spokesman John Dellapina said Foley was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital for observation.
“We heard he’s doing all right and he’s going to be fine,” Boston forward David Pastrnak said.
Before the conclusion of the second period, the Bruins responded with a message for Foley on social media.
“Our thoughts are with the NHL off-ice official who was injured,” Boston wrote on its Twitter account. “We are sending him our best wishes.”
It was a rough night physically for others in Boston, too. Prior to the penalty-box incident, a referee was violently bowled over when a member of the Bruins’ ice crew collided into him with a garbage bin during a first-period TV timeout.
Carolina winger Jordan Martinook also left game with a lower body injury and was ruled out from returning.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.