Linesman Michel Cormier left Wednesday night’s game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche due to injury.
Cormier appeared to lose an edge has he was skating backwards near the benches. The veteran official fell awkwardly, hitting his back and neck against the boards.
The Pittsburgh medical staff rushed to the ice to check on the fallen official, who was later helped to his feet and assisted off the ice.
The game resumed with three officials: referees Kevin Pollock and Jon McIsaac with Tyson Baker as the lone linesman.
The NHL confirmed that Cormier was being held out of the game for precautionary reasons, but would not elaborate on his condition.
Cormier, 45, is in his 17th season in the National Hockey League, having made his NHL debut on October 10, 2003, working a game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He’s worked 1,076 regular season games, including six this season, along with 61 playoff games.
All the best to linesman Michel Cormier on a speedy recovery.
