VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sedin was taken off the ice on a stretcher and hospitalized after being hit from behind by Calgary's Paul Byron on Sunday night.
Sedin, who scored two goals in the first period in the season finale, was injured in the second period. Sedin crumpled to the ice after getting hit in the numbers by Byron in the Vancouver zone with 2:44 left in the period.
The Vancouver trainer rushed to Sedin's side and immediately signaled for a stretcher. Sedin was fitted with a neck brace and placed on a backboard.
The Canucks said Sedin was taken in stable condition to Vancouver General Hospital to undergo further evaluation. He exhibited signs of movement to his extremities and showed improvement from initially being hit.
Byron was given a major penalty for boarding and was ejected.
Sedin, a former NHL scoring champion, has struggled this season with only 16 goals and 31 assists.
He had a stretch of 23 games without a goal.
Sedin sustained a serious concussion on March 21, 2012, when he was elbowed in the head by Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith. Sedin missed four weeks, and Keith was suspended for five games.
Earlier this year Sedin missed nine games after sustained a hamstring injury while playing in the Heritage Classic game against the Ottawa Senators.
Daniel and twin brother Henrik singed four-year, $28 million contract extensions this year.