UPDATE: Brent Burns Returns To Game After Exiting Early With Upper-Body Concern

UPDATE: Burns returned to the game before the end of the first period after being out for over 10 minutes.

ORIGINAL: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns has exited the game against the Chicago Blackhawks with what appears to be an upper-body injury.

The 39-year-old blueliner attempted to lunge at a loose puck in the offensive zone and due to that, absorbed a hit to the head from Chicago forward Philipp Kurashev.

Kurashev was not attempting to hit Burns and it was instead the veteran blueliner that put himself in a vulnerable position.

Burns left the ice immediately and it looked as if he was slumping his right shoulder, but it definitely is an upper-body concern.

Burns has led the Hurricanes in ice time this season, playing over 21 minutes a night in all situations, and he currently has the NHL's fifth longest iron man streak, having played 889 consecutive games.

The veteran defenseman currently has four goals and 18 points in 46 games this season.