Vegas' Brett Howden taken off ice on stretcher against Nashville Predators

A game between the Nashville Predators and Vegas Golden Knights became secondary Thursday night when Vegas' Brett Howden was taken off the ice on a stretcher after going headfirst into the boards after what appeared to be an inadvertent collision with Filip Forsberg with 3 minutes, 31 seconds left in the first period.

Trainers from both teams immediately jumped over the boards to assist Howden, who lay motionless for several minutes before being put on the stretcher. The team announced Thursday night he was in stable condition and would undergo further evaluation.

He acknowledged the crowd by lifting his arm while he was taken off the ice.

Officials initially declared the first period over, with the remaining time to be added to the second period, but after a lengthy delay play resumed.

Evgenii Dadonov, whose trade was overturned by the NHL for violating is no-movement clause, made it 3-0 Vegas 3:14 into the second.

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Reach Paul Skrbina at pskrbina@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @PaulSkrbina.