Gagne leaves ice after hitting head in fall

Simon Gagne of the Tampa Bay Lightning had to be helped to the dressing room in the first period of Friday's playoff game against Washington after he banged his head against the ice following a fall.

The Lightning said Gagne will not return and will be re-evaluated on Saturday.

The side of Gagne's helmeted head banged against the ice after he was lifted off his feet on a hit in the corner by Washington defenseman Scott Hannan just 7:22 into the game. Gagne was unable to do anything to break the fall.

He stayed down on his back, motionless, for a couple of minutes while being attended to by medical personnel. Although a stretcher was wheeled onto the ice, Gagne was able to get up and was helped off the ice.

Gagne has a history of head injuries; he played in only 25 games in the 2007-08 season, when he was with Philadelphia. He also missed 18 games this season with a neck injury.

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