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Flyers' Umberger accidentally cut Stars' Nemeth

R.J. Umberger's skate inadvertently caught Patrik Nemeth on the arm, causing a gruesome, season-ending injury.

Stars defenseman Patrik Nemeth. (Russell LaBounty/USA Today Sports)
Stars defenseman Patrik Nemeth. (Russell LaBounty/USA Today Sports)Read more

CHICAGO - R.J. Umberger knew something was up when he finally climbed to his feet and heard both benches screaming.

It was his first shift of the game on Saturday night in Dallas. There was a routine play on the boards just outside the Flyers' blue line. Umberger went to play the puck when Stars defenseman Patrik Nemeth barreled down on him.

The two collided. It didn't appear to be all that different than one of the other 44 hits.

"I just remember us falling, kind of off-balance," Umberger said. "I know I went down awkwardly."

Focused on the puck, Umberger's body twisted upon impact with Nemeth's body. He was facing away from Nemeth, so when he got up again, he resumed play.

By that point, both benches were hollering and banging their sticks. And it wasn't to celebrate a big hit. Players on the Flyers' bench were gasping at what they had just witnessed.

"I stopped skating," Umberger said. "I was like, 'Wow, what the hell is going on?' "

As he fell to the ice on his side, Umberger's left skate flew in the air and sliced Nemeth's right arm, just above where he is protected by his glove. Umberger's skate was as high as the top of the boards. Nemeth immediately threw off his right glove in pain.

Umberger's skate blade cut through just about everything in its path: Nemeth's long-sleeve shirt, multiple layers of skin, and several tendons.

Nemeth underwent surgery less than 24 hours later in Dallas on Sunday. His season was over really before it could even begin.

"Patrik is done for the year. Maybe, I guess a possibility would be playoffs, but it was a real severe laceration," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. "I think it involves everything. When I say 'severe,' it's probably an understatement. I don't want to go into too much detail.

"First and foremost, I just hope for his sake, that it's a full recovery."

The freak accident has been in Umberger's thoughts since it happened. Crazily enough, this is not the first time one of Umberger's skates has sliced through an opponent's wrist.

Nearly the exact same incident happened on Nov. 26, 2010 in Columbus. Umberger was playing for the Blue Jackets. He got caught in a similar scrum along the boards when he tangled with Red Wings star Mike Modano.

Modano, then 40, required surgery the following day for his bloody and gruesome injury just to restore hand function. Luckily, he missed just 3 months of action, but was limited to 40 games in what turned out to be the final season of his Hall of Fame career.

Nemeth, 22, may not be so lucky. He has just 13 NHL games under his belt. Depending on the damage and success of his surgery, he may not recover enough to make it all the way back.

Flyers forward Eric Wellwood retired last year at the age of 24 after a freak skate cut severed tendons and an artery in his leg while playing with the Phantoms in 2013.

"I've been thinking about it," Umberger said, shaking his head. "You feel for the guy. It's a strange, unfortunate situation. It's just one of those things, you don't feel it hit your skate.

"It's a freak thing. It could happen to anyone of us at any time - not only that, but it could happen in your neck or anywhere."

For Umberger, Saturday night was a strange twist in what's already been a trying return to the Flyers. Entering last night's game in Chicago, he had just one point in five games. His ice time (13:57) is nearly 3 1/2 minutes below his career average (17:15), and the Flyers haven't even been killing many penalties, which would limit his time on ice.

He is hoping a return to his native Pittsburgh tonight will light a spark. The Plum Township native - about 15 minutes outside downtown Pittsburgh - got a taste of a rivalry when he was with the Blue Jackets for the last few seasons, but it wasn't the same as his first run with the Flyers.

"This is a true rivalry," Umberger said. "I grew up in it. I grew up a Penguin fan. I know how all the Pittsburgh fans feel about Philly. My parents have felt it, wearing Philly jerseys and getting things thrown at them in Pittsburgh during the playoffs that one year [in 2008]. It's something I'm anxious to be a part of again."

Umberger will kick off his game-day today with an interview with his Plum High School's television team, his way to give back to its Make-A-Wish Foundation telethon.

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