Hurricanes' Hamilton leaves game with apparent leg injury

The Carolina Hurricanes are holding their collective breath after their best defenseman suffered a potentially gruesome injury.

Dougie Hamilton, one of the NHL's most talented blue-liners, fell awkwardly on his left leg after getting tangled up with Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kevin Stenlund in the final minute of the second period Thursday night.

Hamilton couldn't get off the ice without the aid of his teammates and had difficulty putting weight on his leg.

The Hurricanes later ruled Hamilton out for the rest of the contest. After the game, Carolina head coach Rod Brind'Amour told reporters that "it doesn't look good, obviously," but he didn't have a more specific update.

Hamilton has been in the mix for the Norris Trophy all season, racking up 40 points in 46-plus games while leading all Hurricanes skaters in ice time and shots on goal entering Thursday's contest.