Injured Kaapo Kahkonen exits New Jersey Devils' loss in 1st

NEWARK, N.J. -- Goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen left the New Jersey Devils' 3-2 loss to theNashville Predators on Sunday in the first period with an undisclosed injury.

Kahkonen left the ice with the trainer's help after the Predators' Roman Josi scored on a slap shot that tied the score 1-1 at 8:39 of the opening period. He had four saves.Jake Allen came on to take Kahkonen's place as the Devils lost in a shootout, stopping 29 shots along the way.

Kahkonen returned to the Devils' bench at the start of the second period to serve as backup. New Jersey interim coach Travis Green said the veteran has a lower-body injury and will be evaluated Monday.

Kahkonen, acquired from San Jose on March 8 in a goaltender swap that sent Vitek Vanecek to the Sharks, was 1-3 with a 2.92 goals-against average in five starts for New Jersey before Sunday. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in July.

New Jersey center Curtis Lazar,who has an upper-body injury, also missed the loss and Green said he could be out for the remainder of the season. Lazar sustained the injury in the second period of New Jersey's 4-3 win at Ottawa on Saturday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.