Flyers

Max Talbot: Hockey Player

By Kyle Scott

Published: Oct 25th, 2013 · 10:32 AM EDT

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Max Talbot was nearly reduced to rubble when he went face-first into the boards in the first second period last night. He returned to the game.

His post-game scrum via the Flyers’ city-leading PR department:

Take us through what happened there exactly.

We won a game two to one so that’s really good.

How about your face though, taking the hit.

It’s just a little scratch. It is scary stuff but I’m glad that I am okay.

What was your initial thought when it happened?

I felt my face hitting the board. I didn’t see a replay. I think I tripped first, I didn’t feel like he pushed me. I don’t think Pouliot is a dirty player. I think I tripped first and hit my head and face went into the board. I got off the ice and got tested. I did all of the concussion protocol, and my head is fine. I feel good. 

I think everyone was surprised to see you back out there in the third period.

I was surprised a little bit too. I felt fine. I felt stunned when you hit your face like that. I walked around a little after that and felt great so I wanted to come back.

Even though the shield protected your head, you cut your nose. Do you feel in some ways that that saved you?

I don’t know. I didn’t pay attention to the replay, so I don’t know.

You weren’t disoriented at all?

No, not disoriented. It’s a weird feeling obviously, and I don’t wish that on anybody. No symptoms. No headaches or anything. I got lucky.

How do you make the decision to go back out there?

You walk it off. You see it’s a tight game as well. I took some time with the doctors; we did all of the tests. I still remember all of the words he asked me. I had to repeat five words. Everything seemed okay. We patched up my nose a little bit. When you feel you’re fine to come back, you come back.

How concerned were you that that second goal was going to stand for the Rangers?

I was really concerned. We caught a break there. Sometimes they call your side and sometimes they don’t. It’s such a tight play. I feel like it’s a break we needed because we didn’t have much from the beginning of the year so it was definitely a big break for us. Mason was so unbelievable again for us tonight. We were happy to protect the lead tonight.

Hockey player.

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