New York Rangers goalkeeper Henrik Lundqvist was struck in the neck by a shot last Saturday against Carolina. Lundqvist, 32, called the injury a "blood vessel injury." Team officials are set to re-evaluate him in two to three weeks.
Blood vessels include arteries, veins, sinuses or capillaries through which blood circulates.
After he was hit, Lundqvist continued playing in that game and played in the following contest, but he started experiencing headaches after the second game.
Team officials were worried that Lundqvist was at risk of having a stroke as a result of the injury. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain stops.
“If I would keep playing, I’d run a big risk of having a stroke, and that’s why you have to make sure you play this one safe,” Lundqvist told USA Today. “It’s not a sore shoulder or elbow or something like that.”
Lundqvist said he was grateful his injury wasn't worse and that he wouldn’t hurry his return to the ice.
Lundqvist is 25-11-3 overall this season and 16-4-0 with a 1.82 goals-against average in his last 20 games.
