SUNRISE — The Florida Panthers came out of Sunday’s preseason opener without a serious injury although one of their assistant coaches took some stitches.
Tuomo Ruutu was hit by an errant puck that was deflected with 1:35 remaining in Florida’s 6-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Ruutu was attended to by Florida’s medical staff and taken to the room.
Coach Paul Maurice said Ruutu took roughly a dozen stitches — but is otherwise OK.
Save for the hit to the ego, perhaps.
“It’s going to be fine,’’ Maurice said. “You know, when that happens, the first thing you think about is the eye. But it wasn’t. He got about 11 stitches.
“He will just get chirped so badly for not being able to get out of the way. But he’s fine. Just going to get heckled pretty good tomorrow.’’
The Panthers led the NHL in games-lost by players last season, so, Maurice was thrilled his team got out of Sunday’s game with a clean medical sheet.
“We got off the ice,’’ Maurice quipped, “minus an assistant coach.’’
FLORIDA PANTHERS ON DECK