TAMPA, Fla. - NHL linesman Tim Nowak has left the preseason game between the Nashville Predators and Tampa Bay Lightning due to an injury.

Nowak needed assistance from trainers to walk to the locker room after being hurt with 26 seconds left in the second period of Tuesday night's game. He appeared to have trouble putting weight on his leg.

The referees sent both teams off the ice while Nowak was being treated at the blue line in front of the Tampa Bay bench. The final seconds of the second period were played after the intermission

Nowak, who made his NHL debut in October 1993, didn't return for the completion of the second period or the start of the third.

No other details of his injured were immediately available.