Hockey players might lead the professional sports world in the "most obscure ways to get injured" category. Former Colorado Avalanche forward Joe Sakic once broke three fingers in a snowblower accident, while current Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson missed the entire 2008-09 season after tearing two ligaments in his right knee after falling out of a golf cart (Okay, maybe it's just the Avalanche).
Anyways, the NHL further staked its claim to the title this weekend. Los Angeles Kings forward Dustin Penner is questionable for Monday's game against the Washington Capitals after suffering back spasms while eating pancakes.
Penner missed the Kings' 1-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets Saturday with the injury, practiced Sunday and hopes to be ready to play the Caps Monday. Via LA Kings Insider's Rich Hammond by way of Puck Daddy's Greg Wyshynski, here is Penner's side of the story:
"I woke up fine, sat down to eat and it locked right up. It never happened to me before. I couldn't stand up. I was probably at the third stage of evolution. So my wife helped me get dressed, and then I drove to the rink here, to hope they could do some magic and get it opened up."
"Apparently it's one of those mysterious things, where you can throw it out (from) sneezing. I just leaned over to dip into some delicious pancakes that my wife made. It's just like it [the pain] wraps around you and squeezes. ... So it was disappointing. Hopefully it's just an isolated incident, and not something that's going to become chronic."
Penner is no slouch, standing at 6'4" and weighing 249 pounds, but it's hard not to want to call him "Short Stack" now. Perhaps "Lumberback" is more appropriate? Just don't call him "Uncle Jemima."