The New Jersey Devils may have lost their MVP on Friday night.
Goaltender Cory Schneider left the game early in the third period after making a brilliant right pad save on Dallas Stars forward Jason Spezza. Schneider was replaced by Keith Kinkaid, and was favoring his right leg as he left the ice.
The 29-year-old lunged back towards the goal line after a shot wide came off the boards to Spezza, who tried to put it in. Schneider got his pad down in time, but wasn't able to get back up after the play.
The Devils offered no update to Schneider's condition after the game.
"We'll see what happens when we get back to (New Jersey)," head coach John Hynes said, according to The Star-Ledger's Rich Chere. "If he's hurt, we'll move on without him. If he's not, we'll see him soon."
The Devils won't leave Dallas until late Saturday morning, according to The Record's Tom Gulitti.
Schneider didn't have a Schneider-like night Friday, allowing three goals on 18 shots. He came into the game with a .924 save percentage - ranking fourth among goalies who have played at least 40 games - and four shutouts in 54 starts.
If Schneider - recently named one of three goalies who will represent the United States at the World Cup in September - is hurt long term, the Devils can kiss their playoff chances goodbye. They're five points out of the second wild-card spot, with the Pittsburgh Penguins owning three games in hand.
The Devils lost 4-2.
