Rangers’ Mats Zuccarello was sidelined by small skull fracture

New York Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello could not speak for four days after being hit in the head by a shot in the opening round of the playoffs and sustaining a small skull fracture and some bleeding. Three days after the Rangers lost Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Zuccarello discussed his injury for the first time Monday. Zuccarello said he was hospitalized for three days after being hit on the side of the head by teammate Ryan McDonagh’s shot in Game 5 against Pittsburgh on April 24. He said he also lost some feeling in his arm and had to take speech therapy. He missed the last two rounds of the playoffs. – AP