NEW JERSEY VS. TORONTO BUFFALO VS. PITTSBURGH COLORADO VS. LOS ANGELES DALLAS VS. ST. LOUIS

Saturday, April 28 Kovalev delivers knockout blow Brian A. Shactman Zhitnik BUFFALO – With 5:17 remaining in the first period of the Sabres-Penguins game on Saturday, Pittsburgh forward Alexei Kovalev leveled Buffalo defenseman Alexei Zhitnik, knocking the feisty blueliner out cold. Zhitnik was down for two minutes before being helped off the ice and into the locker room. There was no penalty on the play, and there has been no official word on the extent of Zhitnik's injury. The Sabres then lost Jay McKee, one of their top checking defensemen, midway through the second period when he was shaken up during a collision with Mario Lemieux. McKee, who was bleeding from the mouth, did not return, forcing the Sabres to play the rest of the game with four defensemen. Kovalev caught Zhitnik as he skated with his head down, cutting toward the middle of the ice as he skated into the offensive zone. Kovalev's elbow was up, but Zhitnik's head hitting the ice seemed to be the blow that knocked him unconscious. Sabres spokesman Mike Gilbert would not disclose the nature of the injury, only to say that Zhitnik would not return. In what could have been retaliation for Kovalev's hit, J.P. Dumont was whistled for slashing Kovalev 1:15 into the second period. Kovalev had to be helped to the bench. He missed a few shifts and returned to the ice five minutes later. With a goal and five assists in eight games, Zhitnik has been averaging almost 26 minutes -- a Sabres team high -- in the playoffs. Information from the Associated Press was used in this report. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories

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