ANAHEIM – It’s every hockey mom’s nightmare, seeing her son writhing on the ice in pain. Kathleen Zary and her son Connor lived through that misery Tuesday night at Honda Centre, where the young Flames forward lay curled up in the slot, holding both sides of his knee following an ugly, knee-on-knee collision. Surrounded by a suite full of empathetic ladies on the Flames' mom's trip, Kathleen stood just 22 rows above where her son was immediately tended to by team medical staffers.
The hit came six minutes into the second period of a game the Flames led 1-0, as Zary sped down the left side and into the Ducks zone with the puck. Attempting to cut towards the net, he was met by Drew Helleson whose left knee made contact with Zary’s as he headed the other way. As Zary spun to the ground he shed both gloves mid-air, and used both hands to grasp the outside of his left knee, in clear distress.
Jakob Pelletier immediately rushed at Helleson, tackling the hulking defender who drew a five-minute kneeing major and game misconduct. The league will undoubtedly look at the hit, which didn’t seem reckless or intentional. There was a slight lean as he administered the hit, which will be the focal point of the league’s examination.
“When I saw it live I didn’t like it, but I haven’t had a chance to watch it again yet,” said Flames coach Ryan Huska, who hadn’t spoken to trainers after the game and wasn’t able to provide an update on Zary’s status. What’s not disput.