Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed J.J. Peterka sustained a concussion after getting hit by Brenden Dillon.
New Jersey Devils general Manager Tom Fitzgerald targeted Brenden Dillon because the veteran defenseman possessed the characteristics he was looking to add to his roster this past summer.
"Players that are willing to block shots," Fitzgerald said in April, "Players that are comfortable with confrontation, who understand that physicality is part of the game."
Blocking shots? Dillon has been credited with six over two games. Comfortable with confrontation? The 33-year-old was the first Devils' player to drop the gloves this season. Understands physicality is part of the game? Sure does.
In the first few minutes of Saturday's game between the Devils and Buffalo Sabres, Dillon laid a massive open-ice hit on Sabres' forward J.J. Peterka.
Peterka, 6′0″, 189 pounds, was down on the ice for a few seconds before his teammates helped him get to the bench. He did not return to the game.
Originally called a major penalty, the officials reduced the penalty to a minor for interference.
After the game, Dillon, 6′4″, 225 pounds, addressed the media.
"Obviously, I hope JJ is okay," Dillon said. "But I think for my game, and when I'm on, my gaps are good. I'm stepping up to be physical, and with these highly skilled, highly speedy teams, you've got to play physical on them to be able to slow them down. It was one of my early shifts in the game, kind of getting the guys going and making sure we were emotionally involved in the game and physically, too; it's nice when you're able to get the two points at the end of the day too."
After the game, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed that Peterka sustained a concussion.
"I looked at the hit, and obviously, you've got to rely on the referees and the League to take a look at it … you don't know if it's a little late," Ruff said. "They made the call. The call is what it is. The hit is what it is. You can't look back now."
After the hit, Dillon was challenged and dropped the gloves to fight Alex Tuch.
"I saw him on the ground, and I saw Dillon – I've played against Dillon since I first came in the league," Tuch said. "That's part of the game. If you're going to hit one of our best guys – I think it goes for any team in the league – you have to answer the bell."
The Devils and Sabres' next meeting will be on Feb. 2 at KeyBank Center. The Hockey News wishes Peterka a speedy recovery.