Mats Zuccarello couldn't speak after being hit with puck

Rangers’ Mats Zuccarello reveals the extent of his injuries sustained during Game 5 of the first round of the playoffs.

The New York Rangers‘ season may have ended earlier than they hoped, but overall, the team is pretty lucky – especially winger Mats Zuccarello.

During Game 5 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Zuccarello suffered a slap shot to the head from teammate Ryan McDonagh while fighting for position in front of the Penguins’ net. After receiving the blow, Zuccarello skated over to the Rangers bench appearing understandably dazed and wobbly.

Zuccarello did not return to the game – and know we know why.

The winger revealed on Monday to a scrum of media that the suffered a fractured skull, a brain contusion and temporarily lost the ability to speak and move his arm.

Zuccarello told the New York Daily News:

"“I don’t know what you guys know, but there was a small fracture in my head. I lost my talking and some feeling in my arm and stuff. I was in the hospital for three days. I couldn’t talk for a while. I had a contusion, some blood in my brain. That affects a lot. I went to speech therapy. I’m getting much better. I couldn’t say a word for four days…I feel much better and I’m getting better and better.”"

Hockey players are known for battling through series injuries, some even wear them as a badge of honor. But this injury that Zuccarello sustained is an incredibly scary one. Thankfully he seems to be moving past it.

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Mats Zuccarello couldn’t speak after being hit with puck

By Alexandra Huber | Jun 1, 2015

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