PHILADELPHIA – The NHL referee who was carried off the ice on a stretcher after an incident involving Colorado defenseman Josh Manson has returned home and is expected to recover fully.

The league confirmed that Mitch Dunning was discharged from the hospital following a precautionary assessment after being unintentionally knocked down by Manson during the matchup between the Avalanche and the Flyers.

During the first period of the game at Wells Fargo Center, Manson collided with Dunning near the blue line while skating alone. Dunning fell to the ice and remained motionless for several minutes, though he appeared to show some movement by moving his feet and gesturing with his right hand when Manson approached to check on him.

Medical personnel and trainers attended to Dunning on the ice, leading to a delay in the game. Eventually, the match resumed with one referee and two linesmen, concluding with Colorado edging out Philadelphia with a score of 3-2.

Dunning, who has a background as a professional hockey defenseman with experience in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), transitioned to officiating and achieved full-time NHL status in 2022.

The league has not provided an update on when Dunning will return to officiating duties.