Rangers F Blake Wheeler (lower body) leaves with injury

The New York Rangers lost right wing Blake Wheeler to a lower-body injury after he hurt his right leg with nine minutes remaining in the first period of Thursday's game against the visiting Montreal Canadiens.

Wheeler was trying to pry the puck from along the end boards behind the Montreal net when he was checked by Montreal defenseman Jayden Struble and fell to the ice.

Wheeler was unable to get up on his own and could not put any weight on his leg while being helped to a stretcher under the stands by teammates Chris Kreider and Vincent Trocheck.

Signed to a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Rangers in the offseason after 13 seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, Wheeler has nine goals and 12 assists in 54 games.