Official Hurt During Penguins' 5-4 Victory Over Lightning, Taken to Hospital

Saturday, April 6th, 2024

In a game where the Pittsburgh Penguins secured a 5-4 win, a notable incident occurred when veteran NHL official Steve Kozari had a mid-game collision with Tampa Bay Lightning's defense player Haydn Fleury, leading to Kozari being carried away from the ice on a stretcher.

The accident took place at the game's midpoint, with 13:49 left on the clock, resulting in Kozari being taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital as a precaution. He remained conscious and responsive, maintaining full mobility. Doctors are optimistic about his full recovery.

Pittsburgh's head coach, Mike Sullivan, didn’t hide his concern for Kozari, referring to the crash as "scary." Likewise, Jon Cooper, Tampa Bay's coach, spoke on Fleury’s emotional state after the mishap.

This incident unfolded during a pivotal game where Michael Bunting netted the decisive goal, and Evgeni Malkin shone by scoring twice and assisting once for Pittsburgh. Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang also found the net, contributing to the Penguins' victory and their clinching of a playoff berth.

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