NHL linesman Michel Cormier left Wednesday night's Penguins-Avalanche matchup in Pittsburgh after taking an awkward fall and hitting his head on the boards during the second period.
Cormier's right skate blade appeared to catch an edge as he glided toward the Penguins' bench during play. He tumbled to the ice and could not prevent the back of his head from hitting the boards, leaving him injured.
Linesman Michel Cornier injured at Pens/Avs. Lost an edge and hit the boards near the benches. Game will continue with referees Kevin Pollock and Jon McIsaac and one linesman, rookie Tyson Baker. pic.twitter.com/BKefE8V7pL
— Scouting The Refs (@ScoutingTheRefs) October 17, 2019
The Penguins team medical staff tended to Cormier on the ice and helped him off the playing surface for further evaluation.
Cormier will not return to the game for "precautionary reasons," the NHL announced.
OFFICIALS UPDATE: Linesman Michel Cormier left the @penguins / @Avalanche game in the second period due to injury and will be kept out the remainder of the contest for precautionary reasons.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 17, 2019
The game will continue with two Referees and one Linesman.
On Tuesday, an official in another major sport left a game due to injury, as well. MLB umpire Jeff Nelson suffered a concussion during Game 3 of the American League Championship Series.
According to Scouting the Refs, Cormier made his NHL officiating debut in 2003 and has been a linesman in 1,070 regular season games.