Bruins C Nokelainen, RW Kobasew injured

Feb 11, 2009 - 8:24 AM BOSTON (Ticker) -- Boston Bruins center Petteri Nokelainen left Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks late in the first period with an eye injury and did not return.

Nokelainen was high-sticked in the face by San Jose All-Star defenseman Dan Boyle with 26.4 seconds remaining in the opening session and immediately retreated to the locker room.

Boyle did not receive a penalty on the play.

The 23-year-old Nokelainen recorded an assist in 2 minutes, 39 seconds of ice time before departing. He was taken to a local hospital for further examination.

"He's at the hospital," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "It's an eye injury, and I don't think it's looking very good right now."

Drafted 16th overall by the New York Islanders in 2004, Nokelainen has registered three assists in 33 games this season. The 6-1, 191-pound Finn has collected eight goals and 15 points in 105 career contests with the Islanders and Bruins.

Boston also lost the services of right wing Chuck Kobasew in Tuesday's loss. The 26-year-old departed in the second period with an apparent leg injury, returned for the third but left again midway through the session.

In 14:35 of action, Kobasew registered three shots on goal and a minus-3 rating.

Drafted 14th overall by Calgary in 2001, the 6-foot, 192-pound native of Vancouver has notched 68 goals and 70 assists in 336 career games with the Flames and Bruins.