Lightning D Heward taken off on stretcher

Jan 2, 2009 - 4:47 AM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jamie Heward suffered a concussion and was taken to the hospital for further evaluation after being removed from the ice on a stretcher at the 13:15 mark of the third period in Washington on Thursday.

Heward, 37, was skating up ice when Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin checked him head-first into the boards and rushed to see if his former teammate was OK when play was stopped.

Heward was quickly attended to by trainers before carefully being taken off on a stretcher with his head and neck in supports after a seven-minute delay.

"I didn't want to hit him hard, he just turned," Ovechkin said. "It was (an) accident and I'm very sorry. I never want to hurt somebody, especially my old teammate. It's hard and I'm very sorry, but it's a game and it's a moment. He was my teammate and I know him well. ... I hope he is OK."

"I would be shaken up, too," Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Alex knows Jamie. He is a passionate person about everything he does. I would think that it's going to upset him, but once he finds out Jamie's OK, he's going to be fine. I don't think it will change the way he plays."

Heward was taken to Sibley Memorial Hospital for further evaluation after receiving a standing ovation from the crowd while being carted off the rink.

"He was moving his arms," Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said. "He was unconscious for about a minute and a half. So we made sure that we called his wife. I don't know for sure, but it seems that it's hopefully positive. We'll keep him (in the hospital) overnight."

Heward has two assists in 13 games with the Lightning this season.