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Lightning's Stamkos taken from ice on stretcher

BOSTON (AP) - Tampa Bay Lightning star center Steven Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a right leg injury after crashing into the post against Boston on Monday.

Coach Jon Cooper didn't have an update on his star player, who was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital.

"It's obviously tough to see him go down, not only for our team - he's one of the best players in the world," Cooper said after the 3-0 loss. "People come out to cheer the Boston Bruins here, and they come to see Steven Stamkos play hockey. It's a loss for everybody."

A Tampa Bay spokesman said the team hoped to have an update before the Lightning left town. On TV replays, Stamkos appeared to tell a teammate, "It's broken," before the trainer got out to him.

"I don't know fully what the extent is of his injury," Cooper said. "Clearly he got hurt and clearly he won't be in the lineup tomorrow."

Stamkos entered the day tied for the league lead in scoring with Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby. He was backchecking on a play late in the second period when he got tied up with Boston defenseman Dougie Hamilton, and the pair went into the net hard.

Stamkos immediately grabbed his right leg and was rolling on the ice in agony.

After a brief delay, a stretcher was brought out and he was taken off to loud applause. As he was carted away, he put both hands to his face in apparent pain.

Stamkos collided with Hamilton and fell to the ice just before crashing into the right post. His left skate appeared to hit the post first before his right leg crashed into it around the shin area. He tried to get up twice before going down to the ice in pain, grabbing his leg just above the ankle.