New York Rangers star right winger Mats Zuccarello was unable to help his team, which lost in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final to the Tampa Bay Lightning, due to a skull fracture. Doctors confirmed he'll be able to play during the 2015-16 season, according to the Record's Andrew Gross.

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Zuccarello Suffered Skull Fracture, Brain Contusion

Monday, June 1

"I don't know what you guys know, but there was a small fracture in my head. I lost my talking and some feeling in my arm and stuff. I was in the hospital for three days," Zuccarello told reporters, per Stephen Lorenzo of the New York Daily News. "I couldn't talk for a while. I had a contusion, some blood in my brain. That affects a lot. I went to speech therapy. I'm getting much better. I couldn't say a word for four days... I feel much better and I'm getting better and better."

Though unable to play on May 29, Zuccarello participated in the morning skate wearing a non-contact jersey, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. "There was a small chance I might play more this year. But probably not. There's no reason to speculate now," Zuccarello said, per Lorenzo. "In the beginning I couldn't talk. It was scary. But the doctors were really good and made sure I knew I'd be healthy. I was just happy to recover quickly."

Teammate Ryan McDonagh's shot struck Zuccarello during the squad's 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 5 of its first-round series, which advanced New York to the conference semifinal.