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Habs’ Eller: ‘I don’t remember anything’ about Gryba hit

ellerbloodied

If there’s a silver lining for Lars Eller in the wake of the devastating hit absorbed during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, it’s that he doesn’t remember it.

Or much of anything about it.

That’s what Eller told reporters over the weekend, saying there was a large void of recollection following a bodycheck from Ottawa defenseman Eric Gryba.

“I don’t remember much. There’s a good gap of a 10-minute period where I don’t remember anything,” Eller told the Montreal Gazette.“It happened so fast, I don’t remember anything of it happening on the ice.

“I don’t remember getting carried off the ice, trying to get up, all that stuff.”

Eller suffered a concussion, facial and dental fractures on the hit and was stretchered off the ice after briefly losing consciousness:

The hit ended an otherwise stellar campaign for the 24-year-old Dane.

Eller posted a career-high 30 points in 46 games this season and was averaging close to 15 minutes a night with the Habs during the playoffs. He also ranked third on the team in assists (22) this year and had a plus-8 rating.

The good news is that Eller was able to resume skating during the series and expects to make a full return.

I’m grateful to still be able to play hockey and be where I am,” he told the Gazette.

“So it could have been a lot worse. That’s how I see it.”