October 2, 1999

2nd Period - 4:00•1999-2000 Regular Season

Modano was knocked unconscious four minutes into the second period when he was checked head-first into the boards by Anaheim defenseman Ruslan Salei. Modano was down for some five minutes before his neck was stabilized. He was carried from the ice on a stretcher and taken to Baylor University Medical Center. Salei was assessed a five-minute major for checking from behind, which carries an automatic game misconduct. "Preliminary discussions with the doctors are ligament injury to the neck and the severity is not known," Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said. "Best-case scenario out of this is that he has a stiff neck, which is remarkable given the severity of the hit. There's no neurological damage and he will be held overnight and will be further evaluated tomorrow. He does have a concussion but fortunately, it's very slight." "I'm very sorry and I sure hope Modano is not hurt," Salei said. After the hit, Stars right wing Brett Hull went after Salei and was given an instigator penalty and a fighting major. "My initial thought (was) was he dead. My No. 1 concern is that when a player goes into the boards like that is that he is seriously hurt," Hull said. "I think it's just a matter of time before somebody is seriously hurt or is killed on a play like that. It was an absolutely ridiculous play and was disgustingly cheap. The hit was something far worse than cowardly. As far as I'm concerned, he should be out of the league. It's time for the powers that be to step up and make a lesson of this guy." Other Penalties: Salei received a checking from behind major and a game misconduct; Hull an instigator and game misconduct.

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Votes: 6, Average Rating: 7

R. Salei (ANA) vs. B. Hull (DAL)

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