McIsaac, who was about to start a zone exit, simply had no chance to protect himself as Malatesta came up and hit him directly in the back.
Fortunately, the Detroit Red Wings provided some encouraging news during the game. McIsaac, who was taken to the hospital, was conscious and able to move his extremities.
This is the kind of checking that we want to see disappear in the NHL. The Jackets player could clearly see that McIsaac was in a vulnerable position. In short, let's hope for the best for the 21 year old defenseman.
