Lightning Match

PITTSBURGH - In a frightening incident during Saturday afternoon's game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL referee Steve Kozari was stretchered off the ice in the third period after a collision with Lightning defenseman Haydn Fleury. The incident occurred near the center-ice circle about six minutes into the final period and caused a stoppage in play as emergency response personnel attended to Kozari.

Kozari, who is conscious and alert, is expected to make a full recovery, according to a statement released by the NHL. He was transported to UPMC Mercy hospital for precautionary reasons. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan described the collision as helmet-to-helmet and expressed concern over Kozari's fall, calling it a "scary moment."

The collision took place away from the action, and neither the ESPN broadcast nor the arena video board provided a clear replay of the incident. The video board quickly shifted away from the live in-game feed when it became evident that Kozari was not getting up. Several Penguins players admitted that they did not witness the collision, while Marcus Pettersson and Erik Karlsson expressed surprise at seeing a referee in that particular area of the ice. Pettersson speculated that Kozari might not have noticed that the puck had been sent in the opposite direction, leaving him vulnerable to being blindsided by Fleury.

Medical personnel attended to Kozari for an extended period, causing a lengthy stoppage in the game. Players from both teams tried to divert their attention with short skates near the benches, while coaches and other players watched with concern as Kozari received treatment. Eventually, he was lifted onto a stretcher and taken off the ice through the Zamboni entrance.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, a veteran player with 19 seasons under his belt, expressed his well wishes for Kozari's recovery and described him as a well-liked referee among NHL players. Kozari, 46, has officiated over 1,151 regular-season games and 136 Stanley Cup playoff games, according to information from his bio on the NHLOA official website. He has also worked in four Stanley Cup Final series.

Kozari's career as an NHL referee began after the 2006-07 season when he was promoted to full-time status. Prior to that, he officiated at all levels of minor-league hockey and spent 10 seasons with the Western Hockey League. Notably, Kozari also worked with the British Columbia Sheriff's office while he was a part-time official in the WHL.

As the NHL community rallies around Steve Kozari in his recovery, the incident serves as a reminder of the inherent risks involved in professional sports, particularly for officials who play a vital role in facilitating the game.