Jiri Fischer cried, sniffled and took deep breaths as he made his first comments since collapsing on the bench because of cardiac arrest during an NHL game last month.
Grateful he’s still alive, the Red Wings defenseman doesn’t know if he will play hockey again.
“I’m really, really glad to be here,” Fischer said Monday. “Not too many people get a second chance like I did.”
During a Nov. 21 game against Nashville, team physician Tony Colucci said, Fischer collapsed with a racing, irregular heart beat, and after an auto defibrillator was used on the 25-year-old, his heart stopped for an unknown length of time. Colucci then successfully performed CPR. Fischer is being treated with medicine, is undergoing tests and has not been cleared to play.
Yzerman out 2-4 weeks
Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman will be out two to four weeks with a groin injury. The 40-year-old forward played just two of the first 10 games this season because of a groin injury, then was on the ice for 19 of 20 before being scratched. . . . Goaltender Patrick Lalime (3-11-4, 3.97 GAA) was waived by the Blues.
MONDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
Anaheim 2 at Toronto 3
Tomas Kaberle, Alex Steen power-play goals for Leafs, who won without injured GK Ed Belfour, C Eric Lindros. Ducks, winless in Toronto for 6-plus years, were 0-for-8 with man advantage.
Pittsburgh 1 at Detroit 3
Henrik Zetterberg scored 2 goals for 2nd straight game, Nicklas Lidstrom gave Red Wings 3-goal lead in 3rd and Chris Osgood made just 16 saves as Detroit won its 3rd straight.
Ottawa 6 at Colorado 2
Senators blew open 2-2 tie in 3rd on goals by Daniel Alfredsson, Patrick Eaves, Bryan Smolinski, Brandon Bocheski. Dominik Hasek made 22 saves for Ottawa, which had lost 2 straight OT games.
