Reports out of the world championship in Germany concerning Steven Stamkos, indicate the Tampa Bay Lightning star may have a concussion.

The Canwest News Service reported on Thursday that Stamkos, hurt Wednesday in Canada's 4-1 loss to Switzerland, will miss Friday's game, and Canada GM Mark Messier said, "I think it's just a protocol that you follow when someone has the symptoms that he had. It's not a blunt blow to the head, that kind of concussion. It's a different kind when you get hit in the jaw."

Stamkos, who tied Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby for the NHL lead with 51 goals, was hurt in the first period when finishing a check on Timo Helbling. Stamkos' father, Chris, who watched the game from his Unionville, Ontario, home, said Helbling hit his son with an elbow or stick to the jaw. Canada coach Craig MacTavish confirmed later to reporters in Gemany it was an elbow. Stamkos missed 10 minutes of the first period, played the second but sat out the third.

Chris Stamkos on Thursday said he has not spoken to his son, but received a text message saying he would not be playing. Chris said Steven did not disclose his injury.

"All he said was he wasn't playing on Friday," Chris said.