Panthers D McCabe day-to-day after scary collision

Oct 11, 2008 - 11:14 PM SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) -- The Florida Panthers on Saturday announced an MRI taken on Friday revealed that defenseman Bryan McCabe has a contusion and a lower back strain, not a fractured vertebra as the team originally believed.

He is considered day-to-day.

McCabe collided with Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dennis Seidenberg and smashed into the boards midway through the second period of Friday's 6-4 season-opening loss. Early indications were that McCabe may have broken his back as he twisted awkwardly into the boards, but the MRI helped quell some of the anxiety.

McCabe was credited with an assist earlier in the game, setting up former Hurricane Cory Stillman for a goal in the first period.

After posting 57 points in 82 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2006-07, McCabe struggled last season, notching just five goals and 18 assists in 54 contests. He was traded to Florida over the summer for fellow blue-liner Mike Van Ryn.

A second-round pick of the New York Islanders in 1993, the Ontario native has registered 115 tallies, 419 points and 1,574 penalty minutes in 918 career games with the Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks, Maple Leafs and Panthers.