Huge hit from Ryan Lomberg knocks Jacob MacDonald out cold.

There has been a very scary incident in the National Hockey League this evening.

On Sunday night the Florida Panthers faced off against the Colorado Avalanche and in the opening minutes of the second period Avalanche defenseman Jacob MacDonald was seriously injured. MacDonald was making a routine play from deep in his own zone, attempting to move the puck up the ice, when he was absolutely crushed by a devastating hit courtesy of Florida Panthers forward Ryan Lomberg.

As bad as the outcome of this hit has proven to be I genuinely do not believe that Lomberg was looking to injure MacDonald on the play nor do I believe he was headhunting. MacDonald was extended forward and as a result was left in a very vulnerable position when he took the hit, but it did appear as though Lomberg made an effort to deliver the hit through the body rather than making MacDonald's head the primary point of contact.

Regardless of Lomberg's intentions however the impact on MacDonald was immediate and it was bad. The Avalanche defenseman appeared to be knocked out cold long before he ever hit the ice, and as a result he was entirely unable to protect himself as his body and his head crashed against the hard playing surface. MacDonald hit the ice and did not move for what felt like a very long time.

Thankfully trainers and medical personnel from both the Avalanche and the Panthers quickly rushed out onto the ice to tend to MacDonald and, although I don't know the full extent of his injuries at this time, I am happy to report that the broadcast was able to confirm that MacDonald was moving his extremities as he was carried off of the ice. 

Unfortunately it does appear as though he was pretty hurt on the play, as he was unable to leave the ice under his own power. After several long and agonizing moments of MacDonald just laying there on the ice, a stretcher was brought in and he was loaded onto it before being wheeled into the back where he no doubt received additional medical care.

Here is the full sequence:

Here it is at full speed from the corner camera, this angle shows just how violent the impact was.