| | CALGARY, Alberta -- Calgary Flames veteran defenseman Steve Smith, who has struggled mightily this year on and off the ice, is sidelined indefinitely after being diagnosed with a bruised spinal cord.
Smith was discharged from Foothills Hospital in Calgary on Monday morning, less than 48 hours after being admitted with the injury. He was carried off on a stretcher midway through the
third period of Saturday's 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Smith went down to defend a Tampa Bay rush in front of his own
net when fellow defenseman Bobby Dollas crashed into him,
snapping back his neck. Initial reports indicated that Smith
was able to move his extremities but Flames physician Willem Meeuwisse revealed otherwise.
"Steve sustained a bruise to the spinal cord initially resulting
in the loss of sensation in his arms and legs," the doctor said.
"His legs have returned to normal and his arms are recovering
from this loss of sensation."
"It was very scary," Dollas said at the time of the collision.
"He said he can't get any feeling and then all of a sudden you
see his wife in the background. He's got a bunch of kids. It
puts everything in perspective."
Smith remained in the hospital for two nights and underwent a
series of tests. He will wear a support collar and rest at home
for the next two weeks.
Smith suffered a dislocated left elbow in early November and has
played just 20 games this season. Even when he has been
healthy, Smith has been largely ineffective with a team-worst
minus-13 despite limited action. He has three assists and 42
penalty minutes this season.
The 6-4, 220-pound Smith was born in Scotland and is in his 15th season as an NHL player. He was an assistant coach for the Flames in 1997-98 after a 13-year career as a standout
defenseman for the Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks. But he came out of retirement before last season and recorded a goal and 14 assists in 69 games while providing a mentor role for Calgary's young defensemen.
Smith scored one of the most memorable goals in Stanley Cup
playoff history for the Flames as a member of the Edmonton Oilers. He inadvertently shot the puck off then-Oilers -- and current Flame -- goalie Grant Fuhr's skate and into his own net in the third period of Game 7 during the 1986 Smythe Division finals, giving Calgary a 3-2 victory. | |
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