Senators' Scott Sabourin taken off on stretcher after scary collision with Bruins' David Backes

Ottawa Senators forward Scott Sabourin was taken off the ice on a stretcher Saturday night at Boston's TD Garden after his attempted check went awry.

Sabourin had lined up Boston Bruins forward David Backes for a hit at 3:08 of the first period, but Backes braced for it, and the players' heads appeared to collide. 

The Senators player appeared to lose consciousness immediately after the collision, and he fell face first onto the ice.

Medical personnel came onto the ice and called for a stretcher as a shaken-up Backes watched.

Sabourin was eventually taken off the ice on the stretcher but gave a thumbs-up as he left.

The Senators tweeted during the second period that Sabourin was taken a "local hospital by ambulance for evaluation. He was conscious and speaking with the attending doctors at the time of leaving the arena."

Senators coach D.J. Smith said after the game that Sabourin would stay overnight at the hospital for observation. Smith updated Sunday to say Sabourin likely would be released from the hospital today, and that he suffered a fractured nose.

Backes, who has had his share of tough injury luck, including concussions, was upset by the result of the play and went to the locker room. The Bruins later tweeted that he wouldn't return to the game because of an upper-body injury.

"You can probably do the math on that one," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters. "So we'll see tomorrow. Probably have a better idea on the mental part."

Sabourin, 27, who wasn't drafted, had played his entire professional career in the minor leagues until he made the Senators out of training camp as a tryout. He has one goal and one assist in 11 games.

"He's battled his way to get to the National Hockey League," Cassidy said. "Those are the guys you root for. Hopefully, he's OK."