Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - New Jersey Devils defenseman Anssi Salmela left Monday's game against Philadelphia on a stretcher early in the second period.

Salmela, who rejoined the Devils from the Thrashers in the Ilya Kovalchuk deal last week, tallied a short-handed goal 61 seconds into the period and was simultaneously levelled by a shoulder check from Flyers forward Jeff Carter.

The 25-year-old Finn lay on the ice virtually motionless for several minutes before he was loaded onto the stretcher and taken for evaluation.