Sergachev taken from ice on stretcher during Lightning game

Mikhail Sergachev was taken from the ice on a stretcher in the second period of the Tampa Bay Lightning's 3-1 loss to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday.

Sergachev's left leg appeared to bend awkwardly while he was attempting to make a hit on Rangers forward Alexis Lafrenière along the right boards at 7:00 of the second.

The defenseman was in audible pain immediately following the collision but gave the crowd a thumbs-up as he was being taken off the ice, where he was met by Lightning coach Jon Cooper.

"That was terrible. It was terrible," Cooper said. "I feel awful for him. It clearly affected our team for a little bit. Those ones are tough.

"In the end you've got your family, your biological family, but these are the people you spend pretty much your whole life with, so it goes beyond hockey. He's a really tough kid, and there were emotions coming out. You care for the guys. It was clear. The Rangers cared for him. They all cleared the bench. It's a little more than hockey when it comes down to things like that."

Sergachev, who has 19 points (two goals, 17 assists) in 34 games this season, was playing his first game since Dec. 19 because of a lower-body injury.

“You feel sick to your stomach," Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos said. "Obviously, ‘Sergey’ has put in a lot of time and effort to come back from his original injury, and to see something pretty traumatic like that happen from someone who has been through that, it's tough. Tough to watch.”

Defenseman Victor Hedman agreed.

“It's super tough," he said. "Obviously, been through it with a few other guys in the past, but ‘Sergey,’ first game back after missing an extended period of time, to see him in such pain, it's hard. You feel for him and you just pray for the best, but obviously it's not looking good.”

When asked if the Lightning need to prepare as if Sergachev won't return this season, Cooper said, "Let's not think that way."

NHL.com senior writer Dan Rosen contributed to this report