‘Yotes Notes: Burmistrov ‘sounds like he’s going to be alright’ after hit, Tippett says

UPDATE: Coyotes center Alex Burmistrov has been released from the hospital and will rejoin the Coyotes on Tuesday night after suffering an injury against the Boston Bruins.

Alex Burmistrov returned from an upper-body injury on Tuesday in Boston. His return didn’t last long.

The Coyotes center was skating the puck out of his own end with his head down when Boston defenseman Colin Miller leveled him with a shoulder to the head at 3:49 of the second period that earned Miller a five-minute major penalty for charging and a game misconduct.

Colin Miller ejected for this hit on Burmistrov pic.twitter.com/ZgbDRtBFZO

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) March 1, 2017

Burmistrov lay on the ice for several minutes, being attended to by trainers, before he was rolled onto a backboard and then lifted onto a stretcher and taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation. Burmistrov gave a double thumbs up gesture before he left the ice.

Burmistrov later posted this photo on his Instagram account with the caption, “Im good” that a fan tweeted.

Alex Burmistrov wants everyone to know he's okay! pic.twitter.com/KS78fxKl6n

— Donna (@Donna_0903) March 1, 2017

Coach Dave Tippett said Burmistrov was “getting some tests done” after the game but it appeared he would be fine. The Coyotes later reported that he had been treated and released from the hospital and would rejoin the team Tuesday evening.

“He was in a vulnerable position but it’s a hockey hit,” Tippett told FOX Sports Arizona’s Todd Walsh. “Burmistrov’s head is down. It’s a hard hit; that’s a hit that happens in hockey. You never like to see anybody get hurt, but I don’t think it was an intentional hit to hurt somebody. It was just a guy stepping up on a guy that was in a vulnerable position, and he kind of caught him with his side. It sounds like he’s going to be alright so we’re OK.”

Burmistrov, 25, was red hot after the Coyotes claimed him off waivers on Jan. 2 from Winnipeg and he finally made it across the border after lengthy visa and passport issues. He had a goal and six points in his first six games, but he has just three assists in his last 12 games and will be a restricted free agent after the season.

PULKKINEN ARRIVES

Newly acquired forward Teemu Pulkkinen did not play on Tuesday in Boston, one day after the Coyotes acquired him from Minnesota for future considerations in a separate trade from the Martin Hanzal deal.

“We’ll get him and integrated for a few days … just see where he gets to,” coach Dave Tippett said. “I watched some tape on him, I think it was last year, his name had come up. He’s a little guy that shoots the puck really well; good power play guy.”

It’s been a hectic calendar year for Pulkkinen. He played last season with the Detroit Red Wings, who selected him in the fourth round with the 111th overall pick in 2010. The Wild claimed him off waivers before this season. He had one goal in nine NHL games, and has 18 goals and 18 assists in 47 AHL games this season with Iowa.

Pulkkinen had shoulder surgery in the offseason that he said slowed his start.

“I was kind of rushed to get in before the season started,” he said. “I was kind of rusty there and didn’t play well. The last. I would say, two to three months when I got a lot of ice time down there (Iowa) — I feel good about myself.”

Pulkkinen is waiver exempt so he could report to Tucson of the AHL at some point.

LOOSE PUCKS

— Thirty-three years ago today (actually Feb. 29 due to the leap year), Tippett signed his first NHL contract with the Hartford Whalers. He played his first NHL game at Boston Garden on March 3.

— Center Brad Richardson, who is rehabbing a broken right tibia and fibula, accompanied the team on its three-game trip to Boston, Buffalo and Carolina. Tippett said that was not an indication Richardson was nearing a return, adding that Richardson was just “along for the ride. He hasn’t been on a road trip in a long time.”

— Turns out Martin Hanzal didn’t wear No. 19 in his first game with the Minnesota Wild to honor Coyotes captain and good friend Shane Doan.

Hanzal said he chose 19 because his daughter was born on the 19th, but he'll tell Shane Doan it was a nod to him #coyotes #mnwild 😁

— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) February 28, 2017

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