"Paul Stastny hasn't slept well the past two nights.

"It shook me, man," the Avalanche center said of the open-ice check that resulted in three fractures of the C2 vertebra to University of Denver senior Jesse Martin on Saturday in Grand Forks, N.D.

Stastny, who played two seasons at DU and skates with Martin and other Pioneers during the summer, was rattled because he knows what happened to Martin can happen to anyone.

And Stastny also knows North Dakota's Brad Malone, who delivered the hit on Martin. Malone, a 6-foot-2, 212-pound senior forward, was a fourth-round draft pick of the Avalanche in 2007.

While Martin's hockey career is probably over, Malone will likely continue his career with the Avs organization next season.

"I only saw the replay from one angle and it wasn't the best view, but I don't think there was any intention to hurt him," Stastny said. "Honestly, I've been thinking about it for the last two days. Jesse had his head down, but you don't want to blame anyone."

Martin was skating the puck up ice, out of the defensive zone, and wanted to pass it ahead. But he lost control of the puck and looked down to find it just before Malone crushed him on a forecheck.

Stastny and TJ Galiardi saw replays of Malone's hit after the Avs' 5-1 win vs. Columbus on Saturday. Matt Duchene viewed it from a smart phone after Monday's practice.

"I thought it was a clean hit. The guy is going in to just finish his check," Galiardi said. "It's just the way he hit him. Obviously, (Malone's shoulder) must have compressed his neck. You never want to see someone hurt like that in hockey, ever. We're all praying for him.""