The Minnesota Wild lost third-line winger Justin Fontaine in Friday’s game after he took a knee-on-knee hit from Chicago’s Andrew Desjardins while cutting across his defensive zone blue line. Fontaine went down, clearly in pain, and had to be helped off the ice by center Erik Haula.
He did not return to the game.
In the post-game press conference, coach Mike Yeo said that he believes Fontaine is closer to week-to-week than day-to-day following the collision, implying that even before Fontaine gets fully evaluated that they know this is a pretty serious injury that will sideline Fontaine for a longer period of time.
On the play Desjardins was given a two-minute minor for tripping.
There’s no word from the Department of Player Safety on the hit yet, but Chicago beat writer Mark Lazerus says that while it is “not official,” he “wouldn’t expect any supplemental discipline” for Desjardins.
Justin Fontaine has to be helped off the ice after taking this knee to knee hit from Andrew Desjardins. #mnwild pic.twitter.com/NnKbd8JN9D
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) October 31, 2015
You can watch the hit below. Desjardins doesn’t appear to make a malicious effort to go after Fontaine’s knee, but does lead with his knee in a situation where it was clear that their paths were going to make it difficult for Desjardins to put a good shoulder on shoulder hit on Fontaine.
Yeo on Fontaine: "Initial report is probably more week-to-week than day-to-day." #mnwild
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) October 31, 2015