Veteran referee Steve Kozari is conscious and alert at a Tampa-area hospital after a collision with Tampa Bay’s Haydn Fleury during the Lightning’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.
Kozari was transported to UPMC Mercy Hospital for precautionary reasons, the NHL said in a statement.
Kozari was taken off the ice on a stretcher during the third period. Kozari collided with Fleury at center ice at 6:11 of the third. Both men fell to the ice.
Fleury eventually was helped off the ice. Kozari was stabilized with a backboard. After initially appearing to be unconscious, Kozari was moving his arms and speaking with medical staff by the time he was taken off the ice.
The game continued with three officials. The Penguins won the game, 5-4.
–Field Level Media
