VANCOUVER — Coyotes forward Brad Richardson had to be carted off on a stretcher in the second period of Arizona's game against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night and was sent to a local hospital.

Richardson injured his right leg on an innocent-looking hit from Canucks defenceman Nikita Tryamkin with 8:37 left in the second period.

The 31-year-old Richardson crumpled to the ice in and threw his gloves off in agony under Tryamkin, who stands six-foot-seven and weighs 265 pounds.

Medical staffs from both teams attended to Richardson by the boards in the Canucks' zone for several minutes before loading him onto a stretcher.

His right leg was elevated as fans at Rogers Arena gave the former Vancouver player a nice ovation before he was placed in a waiting ambulance.

Richardson opened the scoring earlier in the period with his fifth goal of the season.