Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty is "disgusted" that the NHL didn't suspend Zdeno Chara after Chara made a dangerous hit on Pacioretty Tuesday night.
Pacioretty, who suffered a severe concussion and a nondisplaced fracture of the fourth vertebrae when checked into the stanchion between the benches at the Bell Centre by Chara on Tuesday night, spoke with TSN's Bob McKenzie about the situation from his hospital room on Wednesday.
"I am upset and disgusted that the league didn't think enough of the hit to suspend him," Pacioretty told TSN. "I'm not mad for myself, I'm mad because if other players see a hit like that and think it's okay, they won't be suspended, then other players will get hurt like I got hurt."
"It's been an emotional day. I saw the video for the first time this morning. You see the hit, I've got a fractured vertebrae, I'm in hospital and I thought the league would do something, a little something. I'm not talking a big number, I don't know, one game, two games, three games . . . whatever, but something to show that it's not right."
"I heard Chara said he didn't mean to do it. I felt he did mean to do it. I would feel better if he said he made a mistake and that he was sorry for doing that. I could forgive that, but I guess he's talking about how I jumped up or something."
"I believe he was trying to guide my head into the turnbuckle. We all know where the turnbuckle is. It wasn't a head shot like a lot of head shots we see, but I do feel he targeted my head into the turnbuckle."