Devils D Salmela taken off ice on stretcher after being hit by Flyers' Carter

PHILADELPHIA - New Jersey Devils defenceman Anssi Salmela has been taken off the ice on a stretcher after taking a hard shoulder to the face from the Philadelphia Flyers' Jeff Carter.

Moments after scoring a short-handed goal that gave the Devils a 2-0 lead in the second period Monday night, Salmela was struck hard by Carter's right shoulder as he skated by. Salmela tumbled to the ice and remained face down for several minutes, until the Devils' medical staff lifted him onto a stretcher.

There was no immediate word on his condition.

The 25-year-old Salmela, playing his second game since arriving as part of last week's trade with Atlanta for Ilya Kovalchuk, has scored two goals this season.