Lupul out indefinitely with bruised spinal cord

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, January, 2008 | by Tim Panaccio Inquirer Staff Writer

TORONTO - Flyers forward Joffrey Lupul is out indefinitely with a bruised spinal cord and a concussion after a violent collision with teammate Derian Hatcher during the 3-2 win over Toronto on Saturday. Hatcher's open-ice hit on the Maple Leafs' Alex Steen was so hard, the defenseman's momentum caught Lupul, knocking him backward.

The back of Lupul's head struck the ice. This was Lupul's fourth concussion and third as an NHL player. The 24-year-old Lupul spent Saturday night at Pennsylvania Hospital for observation and was released yesterday. "Lupul has been diagnosed with a mild concussion," general manager Paul Holmgren said from New York after he returned from the Czech Republic yesterday. "However, the more concerning injury is that he sustained a spinal-cord contusion...