NHL referee Chris Rooney, who took stick to face, eyes playoff return

NHL referee Chris Rooney suffered a cut above his right eye when he was struck by a stick during the Florida Panthers-Toronto Maple Leafs series finale in Toronto on Sunday. According to a league source, Rooney is recovering well and aims to make a comeback for the NHL playoffs. The incident occurred in Game 7 when Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola accidentally made contact with him. Rooney received stitches for the cut and is reported to be in good condition with only a black eye and no long-term damage. Despite losing blood on the ice, he received immediate medical attention before leaving the game, with alternate referee Garrett Rank taking over. Rooney started as a minor league referee in 1999 before becoming a full-time NHL referee in 2002, officiating more than 170 playoff games and appearing in the Stanley Cup Final seven times. The Carolina Hurricanes will face the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday in Raleigh, N.C., while the Dallas Stars will play against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Wednesday in Dallas.