A scary moment from the Lightning’s practice at the Tampa Bay Times on Thursday. Defenseman Brendan Mikkelson smashed into the end boards during a drill. The back of his head and neck rammed against the boards and Mikkelson lost consciousness for a few seconds. The medical team was quick to respond. After several minutes on the ice, he was able to move his arms & legs before being helped up. He skated off the ice under his own power, but was sent to Tampa General Hospital for testing.

“He was lucid. He was talking,” Head coach Guy Boucher said. “There was no hit or anything. Maybe he hit a crack in the ice. He went plunging. Not a good sight.” (Quote Source: Tampa Bay Times)

Mikkelson was released from the hospital folowing the tests. He has been listed as day to day with an unspecified upper body injury. He was in the locker room for today’s morning skate. The only lingering symptoms seem to be soreness and stiffness in his shoulder.

Whew. That’s very good news.