Wild’s Eric Staal released from hospital after head-first crash into boards vs. Blues

Minnesota Wild center Eric Staal was released from the hospital after leaving Game 5 agains the St. Louis Blues due to a head-first crash into the boards .

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Minnesota Wild center Eric Staal was released from the hospital after leaving Game 5 agains the St. Louis Blues due to a head-first crash into the boards, according to the team.

During a 4-on-4 situation in the second period, Staal sent a breakaway shot at the net before tripping on Blues goalie Jake Allen's skate after initial contact with defenseman Carl Gunnarsson knocked him off balance. Staal slid hard and horizontally into the boards.

Play was stopped with 6:07 remaining until the intermission, and Staal was down for several minutes before slowly climbing to his feet. He was visibly dazed as he was helped to the locker room, while the crowd booed the absence of a penalty.

Staal was playing on Minnesota's first line between Charlie Coyle and Nino Niederreiter.