The Dallas Stars game against the Tampa Bay Lightning went from feisty to dirty rather quickly.

A check on Tampa defenseman Victor Hedman by Dallas captain Jamie Benn knocked the blueliner out of the game. But it was nothing in comparison to Nikita Nesterov’s check from behind on Dallas forward Curtis McKenzie.

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McKenzie reportedly had to leave the game with help from his teammates after spending time on the ice in pain. According to Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News, Stars coach Lindy Ruff said McKenzie went to the hospital, but wouldn’t indicate McKenzie’s injury.

He also said Nesterov should have been suspended.

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"He is in excruciating pain," Ruff said according to Mark Stepneski of Stars Inside Edge. "We couldn’t even get him off the table to get him out of here. “

Nesterov was given a five-minute major for checking from behind and a game misconduct.

Shortly after the injury, Heika reported it was a “lower body” injury.

As for Hedman, Tampa coach Jon Cooper said he would know more Friday, saying the star blueliner could be “perfectly fine tomorrow, or might not be.”

UPDATE:

Tampa Bay's Nikita Nesterov will have a hearing today for boarding/checking from behind on Dallas's Curtis McKenzie. — NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) October 16, 2015

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper

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