Referee Chris Rooney leaves in 2nd period of playoff game with leg injury

Referee Chris Rooney is shown on April 16, 2010, in Glendale, Ariz. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Ross D. Franklin

NEW YORK, N.Y. - The playoff game between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers has been delayed by about 10 minutes after referee Chris Rooney was injured in the second period.

Rooney skated backward behind the Washington net Sunday and stumbled and fell. He got up and gingerly skated toward the side boards and then went down in pain. He was tended to by the Rangers' medical staff before heading down the tunnel 3:44 into the second.

Players from both teams left the benches to skate during the delay while backup referee Frederick L'Ecuyer got ready to enter.

Tim Peel, the other referee, was briefly shaken up in the first period when he was struck in the leg by a puck off the stick of Rangers forward Brandon Dubinsky.