Blue Jackets' Anisimov returns to Columbus

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Columbus Blue Jackets center Artem Anisimov was released from a Detroit hospital and has flown home after a scary hit in a game with the Red Wings on Thursday night.

"Thank you for all your prayers. Made (it) home, (feeling) better," Anisimov posted on his Twitter account late Friday afternoon.

Anisimov checked out of Detroit Medical Center earlier in the day and flew home to Columbus along with assistant athletic trainer Nates Goto, team spokesman Todd Sharrock said.

"He will see our team doctors at some point but I don't know if that will be today," Sharrock said.

Anisimov was taken off the ice on a stretcher after being struck in the head by Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey. Anisimov's head then hit the ice as Quincey fell on top of him.

He lay motionless on the ice for several minutes while anxious players on both teams watched from near the benches. After being evaluated by medical personnel, he was put in a neck brace and on a back board and transported off the ice and to the hospital.

Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards said after his team's 3-2 win that Anisimov was alert and stable at the hospital.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound native of Yaroslavl, Russia, has four goals and two assists in 15 games this season, his first with the Blue Jackets. He was part of the big trade last summer which sent Rick Nash to the New York Rangers.