Referee Rob Martell hit in face with puck in Blues-Sharks game

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.