(Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)

Kevin Fiala underwent surgery on his left leg after being removed from the ice on a stretcher Friday from Switzerland's preliminary round game in the Milan Cortina Olympics, and ESPN reported Saturday that the injury will likely end his NHL season with the Los Angeles Kings.

The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation announced the surgery on Saturday for Fiala and said he will miss the remainder of the Olympics.

The injury occurred late in the third period of Switzerland's 5-1 loss to Canada on Friday in a Group A preliminary round game in Milan. Fiala got his legs tangled with Canada's Tom Wilson with just less than three minutes left in the game. Fiala was unable to get to his feet and medical personnel attended to him after a stoppage in play.

'Obviously it doesn't look very good,' Switzerland coach Patrick Fischer said after the game. 'Tough moment for Kevin and the whole team, obviously.'

Fiala, 29, has recorded 40 points (18 goals, 22 assists) in 56 games this season with the Kings, who reside three points in back of the Anaheim Ducks for the final wild-card spot in the NHL's Western Conference.

'We need that guy on my team back home, big time,' said Canada defenseman Drew Doughty, who plays for the Kings.

Another Kings' teammate, Adrian Kempe, also lamented the loss after his Swedish team's 5-3 win over Slovakia on Saturday.

'It's really tough for him personally and for us as a team. You know how much he means to our team back home in L.A.,' Kempe said. 'It's just very unfortunate for him that it comes in a tournament like this that we've been looking forward to playing in for so long. I feel for him.'

For Fiala's career, the 2022-23 All-Star has 229 goals and 299 assists across 707 games. He is in his 12th NHL season.

--Field Level Media