Leafs D Berard undergoes emergency eyes surgeryKANATA, Ontario (Ticker) -- Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Bryan Berard was expected to undergo emergency surgery on his right eye early Sunday morning after a highsticking incident in Saturday night's contest with the Ottawa Senators. Berard was clipped under the right eye after Senators' winger Marian Hossa fanned on a shot in the second period of a 4-2 Toronto victory. He immediately dropped his stick and fell to his knees, holding his right eye until trainers could reach him. Maple Leafs' officials said that there could be possible damage to the eye or to the orbital bone and an update is expected on Sunday. Hossa received a double minor on the play. Berard, 22, had tallied just three goals, but had 27 assists in 61 games in his first full season with the Maple Leafs. He was acquried from the New York Islanders along with their sixth round pick in the 1999 draft in exchange for goaltender Felix Potvin and Toronto's sixth round pick in the 1999 draft. A veteran of four NHL seasons, Berard was originally selected first overall by Ottawa in the 1995 draft. Before the injury, he encountered numerous jeers from the crowd at the Corel Center. |