 The 1950 playoffs were overshadowed by an on @-@ ice mishap in the opening game between Toronto and Detroit , in which the Red Wings ' young star player , Gordie Howe , was seriously injured . Late in the game with Toronto leading 4 – 0 , Kennedy stole the puck from Detroit defenseman Jack Stewart and was carrying it down the left wing about six feet from the boards into the Detroit end of the rink . Stewart was pursuing him from behind and Howe was coming in fast from the side to try to cut him off . Kennedy saw Howe coming at the last moment , and was able to dodge Howe 's check while passing the puck to Sid Smith , but Howe could not stop and crashed head @-@ first into the boards , with Stewart falling on top of him . Howe sustained a concussion , facial fractures , and a lacerated right eyeball , and doctors had to perform emergency procedures on him at the hospital to save his life . Detroit coach Tommy Ivan and general manager Jack Adams accused Kennedy of deliberately butt @-@ ending Howe . Kennedy had not been assessed a penalty on the play . After the game Kennedy said , " I don 't know how he got it . I avoided his check along the boards and didn 't feel anything hit me , although he may have struck my stick . " 
