COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Carolina goaltender Cam Ward was taken to the hospital after his leg was cut by a skate during the first period of the Hurricanes' game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.

Hurricanes spokesman Kyle Hanlin said Ward, who was helped off the ice by two trainers, went to the hospital for further evaluation.

Ward stretched to make a save while Blue Jackets forward Rick Nash skated through the crease at 7:35. It appeared Nash or a defenseman nicked Ward in the leg with a skate.

Ward knelt for a couple of minutes on the ice before he was attended to by the trainers. As he was being helped off, drops of blood hit the ice.

Michael Leighton replaced Ward in goal.