No parent wants to be in the building when their child gets injured, but that's exactly what Connor Zary's mom had to deal with on Tuesday night.
With the mothers of the Calgary Flames players in the crowd as part of their annual mom's trip, Zary appeared badly injured after a knee-on-knee hit from Ducks defenceman Drew Helleson. Zary was writhing in pain on the ice after the hit, grasping at his left knee.
The Flames forward eventually made his way off the ice with assistance from teammates, but he was not putting any weight on his left leg. The team announced in the second intermission that he would not return to the game.
Helleson was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for kneeing on the play.
After the game, Flames head coach Ryan Huska said he had no update on Zary's status, but that he was displeased with the hit.
"When I saw it live I didn't like it, but I haven't had a chance to watch it again yet," Huska said.
Zary's teammates came to his defence after the hit, and Jakob Pelletier was assessed a two-minute minor for roughing after the scrum. The Ducks would go on to score on the ensuing two minutes of four-on-four to tie the game at 1-1.
Zary, 23, has been one of the bright spots for the Flames this season. In the midst of only his second NHL season, Zary entered Tuesday night's game with 10 goals and 12 assists in 39 appearances.
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