Craig Anderson Stretchered Off The Ice Against Stars

UPDATE:  Before the broadcast went off the air, it was reported that Anderson was walking around the Senators dressing room area.

With 3:16 remaining in Overtime, Dallas Stars forward Valeri Nichushkin barreled into Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson, snapping the netminder’s neck backwards and forcing the medical staff to take precautions and take him off the ice on a stretcher.  The game was delayed for minutes as the prone goaltender was attended to, making sure all safety measures were taken to avoid further injury.

Oct 27, 2013; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) makes a save on a shot from San Jose Sharks centre Logan Couture (not pictured) in the third period at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Sharks defeated the Senators 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

Canadian Tire Centre was very quiet as he was tended to, but he was conscious and moving his extremities somewhat, so that is a good sing and hopefully the stretcher was simply precautionary.

It was the second time in the game that the big Dallas rookie had run into  Anderson, taking the puck hard to the net.

Anderson missed time last season with an ankle injury, and has struggled since returning this season, unable to match the stellar numbers that he posted last year before his injury.

Robin Lehner took Anderson’s place in the Ottawa net for the final 3 minutes plus and the shootout.