Minnesota Wild defenseman Keith Ballard was knocked unconscious and sent into convulsions after a hit from Islanders forward Matt Martin last night in Minnesota. Ballard was stick-handling at center ice near the boards and fired the puck into the New York zone as Martin closed in on him. Ballard tried to avoid the hit, but wound up getting his head slammed into the boards and then again hard on the ice as he fell down. The hit elicited the classic fencing response associated with concussions and convulsions while Ballard remained on the ice.A stretcher was brought out for him, but he eventually regained consciousness and was able to skate off the ice with the assistance of the training staff. He was taken to Regions Hospital for evaluation and observation.