Backup official Garrett Rank was forced into action in Sunday’s Game 7 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers after referee Chris Rooney was forced to leave the game.
Rooney exited the contest early in the second period after he took a stick to the face from Panthers defenceman Niko Mikkola.
Facing pressure from Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, Mikkola attempted to clear the puck from deep in his own end and caught Rooney under the visor with his stick on the follow-through.
At the second intermission, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said that “it looks like things are going to be OK, thankfully” for Rooney.
“Above the eye and getting stitched up… It sounds like the worst here was avoided.”
Rooney remained down on the ice for a short time before he was able to get to his feet and skate off with a towel covering his face.
Rooney, 49, worked his first NHL game in 2002. He’s officiated over 170 career playoff games and became the first American official to work 1,500 NHL games in January.
The NHL has standby officials at playoff games and Rank took over as one of the two referees following Rooney’s injury, joining a crew that also included referee Jean Hebert and linesmen Devin Berg and Jonny Murray.
— With files from the Associated Press
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