Daniel Sedin in stable condition after hit from behind

Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sedin was taken off the ice on a stretcher late in the second period of Sunday night's regular-season finale against the Calgary Flames after taking a hit from behind.

Sedin crumpled to the ice after getting hit in the numbers by Calgary's Paul Byron in the Vancouver zone with 2:44 left in the period.

The Canucks' trainer rushed to Sedin's side and immediately signalled for a stretcher.

Sedin, who appeared to be moving his fingers on a television replay, was fitted with a neck brace and placed on a backboard.

The Canucks, who won the game 5-1, said in a statement that Sedin was taken in stable condition to a hospital to undergo further evaluation.

"He exhibited signs of movement to his extremities and showed improvement from initially being hit," the statement read. "No assessment will be made until completion of this evaluation."

Byron was assessed a five-minute penalty for boarding and a game misconduct.

Sedin, a former Art Ross Trophy winner as the league's top scorer, has struggled this year. He has 16 goals, including two Sunday against the Flames, and 31 assists. At one point he went 23 games without a goal.

The left winger suffered a serious concussion on March 21, 2012, when he was elbowed in the head by Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Duncan Keith. Sedin missed four weeks while Keith was suspended for five games.

Earlier this year Sedin missed nine games after suffering a hamstring injury while playing at the Heritage Classic game against the Ottawa Senators.

Daniel and his twin brother Henrik signedfour-year, $28-million US contract extensions this year.