Former Screaming Eagle sustains head injury.

[cbisle]

Los Angeles Kings left wing Ryan Flinn sustained a severe head injury when his head struck the ice during a fight with Chicago defenseman Jim Vandermeer on Saturday night.

The game was delayed 8 minutes midway through the first period while the Kings' medical staff attended to Flinn, who got in the most punches during the brawl and at one point knocked Vandermeer's helmet off. Flinn was placed on a stretcher and carried off the ice, leaving a large pool of blood behind.

The 25-year-old Flinn was called up from Manchester of the AHL on Saturday.

He played in one other game with the Kings this season, and has one goal and 84 penalty minutes in 31 career NHL games. He had one assist and 38 penalty minutes in six games this season for Manchester. He signed with the Kings as a free agent on Jan. 2, 2002.

[IAMCAPER]

I saw this incident on the news and it wasn't pretty. The loss of his helmet prior to his fall was disastrous. Here's to a quick recovery for Flynn!

[cbisle]

Udate. Flinn is now recovering and is listed as week-to-week with a mild concussion.

[IAMCAPER]

This is good news!

You have to wonder how long it will take for the anti-fighting-in-hockey people will use this as their flagship example of why hockey doesn't need fighting. The fact is, there are more non-fighting injuries than fighting injuries. This was a freak incident.

[cbisle]

Flynn is very lucky that he only sustained a minor concussion. I guess he has a really hard head. ;D

I don't think hockey would be the same without fighting. I think it's the part of the game that allows players to vent their frustrations. If there were no fighting I think we would have a lot more Marty McSorley/Donald Brashear incidents.