The father of Tampa Bay Lightning star Steven Stamkos said the blow to the mouth and jaw that knocked his son out of Canada's 4-1 loss to Switzerland Wednesday at the world championship in Germany "didn't seem terrible."

Chris Stamkos said from his Unionville, Ontario, home that he watched the game and saw what happened. He said Stamkos finished a check on Timo Helbling in the first period and either a stick or elbow of the Swiss player hit Stamkos in the mouth and jaw. There were reports out of Germany, though, that said it appeared Stamkos injured his shoulder. Either way, Stamkos left the ice for about 10 minutes, returned for the second period and then did not play the third.

"It didn't seem terrible," Chris Stamkos said. "I didn't see any cuts."

Team Canada characterized the injury simply as upper-body, but Canada coach Craig MacTavish said after the game, "He took a pretty good elbow." There was no immediate word on if Stamkos will play in Canada's next game on Friday. Chris Stamkos said he had yet to speak to Steven, but added, "If it was something bad, he would have called me. That's why I don't think it's serious.''

If that is the case, the Lightning is breathing a sigh of relief. Stamkos, 20, in his second season, became one of the league's most explosive and dynamic players, scoring 51 goals to tie Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby for the league lead and win the Rocket Richard trophy. He also led Tampa Bay with 95 points.