Maybe just for a brief moment, even Alex Tanguay was wondering if he might be concussed.
Initially Wednesday morning, his injury was announced as a concussion. Later that day, a release was sent disclosing it as a neck strain.
“I don’t know where that came from. I guess there was some miscommunication,” Tanguay said Thursday, his humour still intact. “Unless I was concussed, I’m pretty sure I know what the doctors said.”
Looking a little stiff while turning to talk to members of the media encircling him, Tanguay said he hopes to get back into the lineup quickly. Maybe as early as Friday night’s date with the Anaheim Ducks.
“I’m feeling better. I’m hoping that I’m going to feel good tomorrow,” he said. “It’s a lot more fun to play than it is to watch, especially in the situation we’re in.”
But when it comes to the head and neck area, you can’t be too cautious these days.
All you have to do is look at the injured list, with Daymond Langkow’s career in jeopardy and Raitis Ivanans unable to suit up since the season opener because of a serious concussion, to realize playing it safe is better than never playing again.
“Certainly, players are more aware of it now and we all know what’s at stake,” Tanguay said, admitting he wasn’t feeling quite right in the head the day after taking an awkward hit during the game against the Chicago Blackhawks Monday.
“The neck affects your head at some point. The first thing they did was a concussion test on me.
“I can still recite the five words they asked me there, and all the questions. The numbers backwards.
“Mentally, I feel fine.”
In case anyone was still wondering, he parted with those five words from the standard concussion test designed to assess memory.
“Baby, monkey, perfume, sunset, iron,” Tanguay rattled off with a laugh.
Case closed.
