VIDEO: Leafs' Paul Ranger taken off ice on stretcher after boarding

Leafs defenseman Paul Ranger is stable after a hit against the boards. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn) Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Paul Ranger

Leafs defenseman Paul Ranger is stable after a hit against the boards. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Paul Ranger was taken off the ice on a stretcher after being boarded by Tampa Bay Lightning forward Alex Killorn in the first period of Wednesday night's game.

On a Lightning power play, Killorn followed Ranger and leveled him into the boards head first as Ranger tried to make a play with the puck. Medical staff attended to Ranger and he was put on a stretcher and taken off the ice in a neck brace.

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Killorn was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct. The first period ended four seconds early with the time added on to the second period.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEVdDGs9ENc]

Paul Ranger was taken to local hospital for precautionary assessment this evening during tonight's game. He is stable, conscious and alert.

— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) March 20, 2014