Referee stretchered off after collision in Penguins-Lightning game

Referee Steve Kozari had to be stretchered off the ice after colliding with Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Haydn Fleury during Saturday's game between the Bolts and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Kozari was momentarily unconscious immediately after the collision. But he had movement in his extremities before he was placed on the stretcher.

Fleury skated off the ice under his own power, though he was bleeding from his face. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game with an upper-body injury.

Kozari was taken to a local hospital as a precaution, is conscious and alert, has the use of all his extremities, and is likely to recover fully, the NHL stated postgame.

He's been officiating at the NHL level for nearly 20 years, working his first game in 2005. He's been part of over 1,200 regular-season contests and 135 playoff tilts.