Bruins’ Jimmy Hayes Takes Shoulder To Face From Shawn Thornton (GIF)

BOSTON — Jimmy Hayes briefly left Saturday’s Bruins-Florida Panthers game after absorbing a hit to the head from former teammate Shawn Thornton.

Hayes, who played with Thornton in Florida last season, was skating with the puck in the neutral zone late in the first period when he received a shoulder to the face from the former Bruins enforcer.

Hayes left the ice, exited down the tunnel and missed the remainder of the first period, but he was back on the bench to begin the second.