Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin left the game against the Nashville Predators on Saturday night in the first period with an apparent lower-body injury.

Khabibulin sustained the injury when he went down into the butterfly on a slap shot from the point by Predators defenseman Shea Weber. The veteran goalie had to be helped from the Bridgestone Arena ice.

Khabibulin left with 4:27 remaining in the first period. He had allowed two goals on eight shots.

Corey Crawford, who was supposed to get the night off, entered the game with the Blackhawks trailing 2-0. He gave up five goals on 22 shots.

Nashville won the game, 7-2.