"Like members of the military, hockey players never like to leave one of their own behind in an enemy city.

But the Calgary Flames had to do just that Sunday as veteran Daymond Langkow remained overnight in a St. Paul hospital after taking a puck in the back of the neck in a 4-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild.

According to the Flames, Langkow has feeling and motion in all his extremities. He even phoned his wife from the back of the ambulance to let her know he was all right.

But doctors needed more time to complete a battery of tests, including X-rays, so athletic therapist Schad Richea stayed behind in St. Paul until Langkow receives the all-clear to fly home.

"When it comes to the neck, you've got to take every precaution you can," said centre Eric Nystrom. "I know the doctors did a great job. Hopefully, it's not very serious.

"It just hit him in a funny spot. The puck is so hard and that spot is a little vulnerable. The way it hit him is scary. But that guy is a warrior, so I'm sure he'll be fine."

In a scary sequence of events, Minnesota defenceman Greg Zanon jolted Langkow from behind as the two battled for position in the high slot. The Calgary forward bounced into Wild defenceman Marek Zidlicky and then crashed to the ice with his head down in awkward fashion."