Matt Niskanen was part of a scary play Thursday against the Hurricanes where he was knocked face-first into the boards. The defenseman missed Friday’s pratice and Saturday’s game, but after speaking to media after practice on Sunday, he says there are no hard feelings.
“I don’t think anybody did anything wrong,” Niskanen said to NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti. “A bad set of circumstances. Me and Justin Williams were racing for the puck. It’s a little bump. That happens 20 times a game.”
“I happened to get bumped in front of a guy and we all got tangled up going fast at the worst distance from the boards,” Niskanen continued. “It happens three feet further, it’s fine. If it happens three feet closer, it’s fine. I just lost my balance at the worst possible spot on the ice.”
Niskanen said he went through concussion protocol after falling face-first into the boards, but that the problem wasn’t with his head and he did not have a concussion. The defenseman did not go any further into what has been ailing him.
Niskanen said he went through concussion protocol, but issue was not with his head. Wouldn't go beyond that as far as his injury, but he didn't have a concussion.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) December 30, 2018
Carolina forward Clark Bishop, one of the players involved in the tangle, waited outside the locker room for Niskanen, though he was occupied with concussion testing. Niskanen said Bishop did get in touch with him later, but that it wasn’t necessary.
Carolina's Clark Bishop waited for Niskanen outside Caps locker room after game on Thursday to check on him, but Niskanen said he was otherwise occupied. He said they spoke later, but it was not necessary.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) December 30, 2018
Today, Niskanen helped warm up the goalies before practice and then joined the rest of the team for their Sunday skate. Nisky took rushes on a fourth defensive pairing with Brooks Orpik. After practice, Todd Reirden said that Niskanen will not play on Monday vs the Nashville Predators and Orpik will be a game-time decision.
Photo: Elizabeth Kong
