Monday’s Philadelphia Flyers game against the Colorado Avalanche got off to a scary start as NHL referee Mitch Dunning was injured in an accidental collision with Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson.

Dunning, 32, was stretchered off after spending about six minutes on the ice in a huddle with no limited movement. Manson skated over to Dunning, presumably to apologize or check on him, as he was taken off the ice to an ambulance.

The NHL later announced that Dunning was taken to a nearby hospital as a precaution, had full movement in all his extremities, was fully communicative and showed no signs of neurological abnormalities.

NHL PR released the following statement about 45 minutes after the incident:

“Referee Mitch Dunning was taken to the hospital as a precaution following a collision in the Avalanche/Flyers game. All neurological signs are normal, he is fully communicative and can move all his extremities.”

Flyers head coach John Tortorella said after the game that he didn’t even see the incident with Dunning and Manson.

“I didn’t even see him. I didn’t even see him,” Tortorella said. “We were concerned that. . . he had no feeling in his arms. That’s what I was told. But I think it’s good.”

Avalanche protector Makar Roadlike Tortorella, he did not see the clash between Dunning and Manson. The unfortunate accident happened so quickly on what was otherwise a routine play in a long game.

“Actually, I haven’t even seen it yet. I didn’t follow him,” Makar said. “I assumed a collision, but I haven’t seen it yet. So we hope it’s good. You don’t want to see that happen, especially in an accident like this.”

Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar, who picked up his 400th overall NHL win against the Flyers on Monday night, shared his perspective.

“Manson ran into him,” Bednar said. “He kind of pivoted with his back in the middle, (Manson) ran into him, he fell. But I hear he’s doing well.”

Dunning arbitration has begun in the NHL in March 2019 and was promoted to full-time in 2022. His first NHL game as a referee was the Ottawa Senators vs. Florida Panthers on March 28, 2019.