UNIONDALE, N.Y., March 10 (UPI) -- Calder Trophy favorite Ilya Kovalchuk of the Atlanta Thrashers was hospitalized Sunday after suffering a shoulder injury in a 6-1 loss to the New York Islanders.
Team officials said the 18-year-old Russian would spend the night at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York York and undergo a CT scan after separating his right SC joint.
Kovalchuk suffered the injury with 6:11 left in the second period. He hit Shawn Bates with his left shoulder before falling awkwardly into the boards on his right side.
The top pick in last year's NHL draft, Kovalchuk had to be helped to the locker room.
Kovalchuk leads all rookies with 29 goals and is second on the team in scoring with 52 points. He also played for Russia at the Winter Olympics.
