Zednik improving after throat slash, may be discharged by Saturday

SUNRISE, Fla. - Florida Panthers forward Richard Zednik, whose carotid artery was nearly severed, may be discharged from a Buffalo hospital by Saturday.

Zednik is showing improvement after his neck was slashed, Dr. Sonya Noor said on Thursday.

Noor performed emergency surgery Sunday night after Zednik's neck was accidentally cut by the skate of teammate Olli Jokinen. Zednik lost over two litres of blood in the gruesome accident, but his condition was upgraded to good on Wednesday.

Zednik is showing so much improvement that Noor authorized a special treat - Buffalo's famed chicken wings.

"He asked if he could eat Buffalo chicken wings," Noor said. "So we let him."

An eatery donated wings and pizza for Zednik, his wife and nurses at Buffalo General Hospital.

He is expected to miss the remainder of the season.