THE STORY
On March 7, 2010, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke delivered a blindside hit to Boston Bruins center Marc Savard's head during a game. Savard was knocked unconscious and diagnosed with a Grade 2 concussion, causing him to miss the rest of the regular season and the first playoff round. The NHL did not penalize Cooke. The incident led to the introduction of Rule 48, banning blindside hits to the head.
TEAMS / PEOPLE:
NHL teams and players
WHY IT MATTERS
The incident highlighted the dangers of blindside hits to the head, prompting the NHL to introduce Rule 48 to enhance player safety. It also sparked widespread debate over player safety and the league's disciplinary measures.