Sharks' Boyle says he's 'OK' after hit

San Jose, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle was kept overnight at a St. Louis hospital but says he's "OK" after a scary hit Tuesday night.

Boyle was returning to San Jose on Wednesday "to continue his medical care and undergo further evaluation," the team said.

He was taken off the ice on a stretcher Tuesday night after being checked from behind into the boards by Blues center Maxim Lapierre.

In a text exchange with a San Jose Mercury News reporter, Boyle said he was "OK" and called the incident, in which Lapierre drove his stick into Boyle's upper back and sent him face-first into the glass, "scary."

"Hopefully the symptoms will be very minor if any going forward," Boyle wrote.

The veteran defenseman remained motionless on the ice for several minutes before he was taken off. Lapierre drew a five-minute major for checking from behind, a fighting major after an ensuing fracas and was ejected from the game.