VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- Colorado Avalanche forward Ville Nieminen left Saturday's game against the Vancouver Canucks early in the second period with a concussion and did not return.

Nieminen had just played the puck in the Vancouver zone 1:08 into the second period when he was hit by Canucks forward Todd Bertuzzi. Nieminen, who led NHL rookies in the playoffs with four goals and six assists last season, remained on the ice for several seconds after the hit and appeared woozy as he got to his feet.

He skated to the bench under his own power, but was helped to the dressing room by the Colorado training staff.

There was no penalty called on the play.

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October 14, 2001

Avalanche forward Ville Nieminen left with a concussion and did not return after Todd Bertuzzi caught him in the head with a shoulder 1:08 into the second. No penalty was called on the play, but there were plenty to go around in the last period. 

"We don't know to what extent the concussion is, but he's out a couple of days, that's for sure,'' Hartley said. "It's a clear elbow to the head, so I think we'll wait and the league, I'm certain, will review it and we'll go from there".
 

[...]
Two days later, the league gave a 10-game suspension to Bertuzzi for leaving the bench to jump into a fight.

Ville did not play for two weeks, and was back on the ice on October 28.