EDMONTON, Alberta -- St. Louis superstar centerBlues pick up win after Gretzky KO'd
Mike Keenan hopes that some action will be taken against Kelly Buchberger, who forced Gretzky out of the game after a collision. (119k wav)
Wayne Gretzky was knocked unconscious and helped from the ice Sunday in the second period of the Blues' 4-3 victory over Gretzky's former team, the Edmonton Oilers.
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| Gretzky was motionless on the ice for a few minutes and had to be helped off. He did not return. |
He sustained a mild concussion.
Gretzky was taken to an undisclosed hospital and diagnosed with a severe headache. He was later released and was aboard the team flight to St. Louis and is listed as day to day for Tuesday's home game against the Florida Panthers.
Buchberger, noted as a tough but clean player, defended his actions after the game.
"It wasn't a dirty play on my part," he said. "I was just trying to take the body and he pulled up to miss a check from Luke (Richardson). I actually thought at the time that I hit him on the shoulder or upper arm. I just saw the replay and let me tell you, there was no intent on my part."
Oilers coach Ron Low backed up Buchberger.
"I looked at it on TV and disagree with it totally," Low said. "It's not a cheap shot at all. I think (Gretzky) himself says he doesn't think he meant to hit him."
At least one of Gretzky's teammates, and his coach Mike Keenan, wasn't so sure.
"I think it was a bad play," Blues defenseman Murray Baron said. "Number 99 deserves some respect out there and it's my job to make sure he gets it. I don't care if it was out of character for Buchberger. He hit Gretzky with a blatant elbow right on the chin and there's no room for that."
"I was really surprised that Buchberger would give him a cheap shot," Keenan said. "I don't think that's the type of individual he is and I guess everyone is competitive, but I've coached him in the World Championships before and I was extremely surprised he'd hit Wayne with a cheap shot like that."
Gretzky, who spent the first nine seasons of his illustrious career with the Oilers, helping them win four Stanley Cups, was returning to Edmonton for the first time since the trade that sent him from the Los Angeles Kings to the Blues five days ago.
Gretzky, considered the greatest hockey player of his era, was acquired Tuesday in a blockbuster deal with the Kings, who received three young players and two draft picks in exchange for the all-time scoring leader.
Gretzky scored a goal Thursday in his first game with the Blues, a 2-2 tie against the Vancouver Canucks and had an assist on the first goal in Sunday's game. He has 16 goals and 67 assists this season, which ranks him 10th in the league with 83 points.
