Sunrise, FL (My Sportsbook) - Carolina Hurricanes left wing Erik Cole was taken off the ice on a stretcher during the third period of Monday's 4-3 victory over the Florida Panthers.

Cole suffered an apparent neck injury with 7:26 left in regulation. He was skating with the puck through the right circle when he was checked from behind by Jassen Cullimore. Cole went ahead-first into goaltender Tomas Vokoun's legs and remained on his stomach in the crease before medical personnel wheeled out a stretcher. Cole's neck and head were immobilized as he was placed on a backboard and wheeled off the ice. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, but reports indicated he had movement in his extremities.

On March 4, 2006, Cole suffered a fractured vertebra in his neck after getting checked into the boards by Pittsburgh defenseman Brooks Orpik. The injury kept Cole out of the lineup until Game 6 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals. The Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup that season.

So far this season, Cole has three goals and nine assists.