New York Rangers forward Sean Avery lacerated his spleen in the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins and will miss the rest of the season.

The 28-year-old was rushed to a Manhattan hospital several hours after the Rangers lost a Stanley Cup play-off game against the Penguins at Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers said it was not immediately clear what caused the injury but Avery's mother told the Toronto Sun he was hurt in the first period when colliding with a Penguins defenseman.

Avery "will be sidelined for the remainder of the season", the team said in a statement. "He is expected to make a full recovery during the off-season."

The New York Daily News said Avery's team mates were expected to visit him in the hospital on Wednesday.

During the 2005-2006 season, the Canadian-born player led the league in penalty minutes.

Reuters