TORONTO, Feb. 29 (UPI) -- Defenseman Brian Rafalski of the NHL's New Jersey Devils injured his right leg during a 3-0 loss to the Maple Leafs in Toronto.
Rafalski was chasing Toronto left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky when Ponikarovsky checked him into the net. Rafalski's leg slammed into the left goalpost and he could not put weight on it as he was helped to the locker room.
"I got spun around and kind of got whiplashed and then hit the post with my leg," Rafalski said.
While Sportsnet of Canada reported the leg was broken, Rafalski was more upbeat. He was able to walk in the locker room after the game, but was to return to New Jersey Sunday for further examination.
"It's luckily not the knee," he said. "Right now, it feels good. It went numb at first, but now I've got the feeling back. Obviously, I'm walking now, so that's good."
The 30-year-old Michigan native is fourth on the team in scoring -- and second among defensemen -- with five goals and 25 assists in 63 games. He made his first All-Star appearance earlier this month in place of injured teammate Scott Stevens.
