EDMONTON, Alberta -- NHL official Chris Rooney was back in action on Tuesday night for Game 4 of the Western Conference Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars.
It was the veteran referee's conference final debut, and a fitting return for Rooney given the circumstances. It was Rooney's first game since he took a high stick to the face on May 17 during Game 7 of the Eastern Conference second-round series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers.
Rooney was injured 13 seconds into the second period of that contest when Panthers' defenseman Niko Mikkola caught him with the end of his stick while fighting for a puck.