The referee who was injured during a Pittsburgh Penguins game is returning for the playoffs.
PITTSBURGH – When the Pittsburgh Penguins took on the Tampa Bay Lightning in a late-season battle, they finished their contest down an official. In the second period, Lightning defender Haydn Fleury collided with referee Steve Kozari at center ice.
Both Fleury and Kozari fell to the ice, but Kozari appeared to get the worst of the situation. Kozari lay on the ice motionless for a few moments and was eventually stretchered off and taken to a local hospital.
The NHL later provided an update that Kozari was doing well and had control of his extremities. It took less than a month for Kozari to return from his injury.
Kozari didn’t officiate another game for the regular season but is returning just in time for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Kozari will be part of the officiating crew for Game 1 between the Nashville Predators and Nashville Predators. This will be Kozari’s 137th career playoff game. Kozari has also officiated the Stanley Cup Final on four occasions.
Fleury did not play for the rest of the season with an upper-body injury. The Lightning are facing off against the Florida Panthers in the opening round of the postseason.
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