Referee Martell hit in eye with puck in Blues-Sharks game

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Referee Rob Martell left the San Jose Sharks' game against the St. Louis Blues in the third period Thursday night after getting hit in the left eye by an errant puck.

He was taken to a hospital for evaluation.

The Sharks were on a power play early in the period when forward Milan Michalek took a shot that flew through the crease and hit Martell, who was watching from the far side of the net.

Martell, an NHL referee since 1992, fell face-first on the ice. He stayed down for several moments before being helped to the dressing room, leaving a pool of blood on the ice behind the Blues' net.

Referee Mike Leggo and linesmen Mike Cvik and Don Henderson continued the game, which was tied 3-3.

A few moments later, the game was delayed for 18 minutes while a work crew fixed a problem with the boards.