Devils' Stevens has post-concussion syndrome

Scott Stevens may not play in next month's NHL all-star game.

On Saturday, the New Jersey Devils defenceman confirmed he is suffering from post-concussion syndrome and will be sidelined indefinitely.

"I had a bad stomach and I wasn't feeling right," said Stevens, who hasn't played since Jan. 7. "I may have had a touch of the flu, too."

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On Thursday, the all-star rearguard visited Dr. Karen Johnston, a noted concussion expert in Montreal.

"I've seen the best people in this area," the Devils' captain said. "I went on my own. The team knew I was going, so I wasn't trying to hide anything."

The 39-year-old Stevens, who has 12 points in 38 games this season, was voted to start for the Eastern Conference at the all-star game Feb. 8 in St. Paul, Minn. (CBC, 3 p.m. EST).

He missed his fifth straight game on Saturday when the Devils edged Washington 2-1 in overtime. Stevens was honoured prior to the contest at Continental Airlines Arena as the all-time leader among defencemen in games played.

Stevens has no idea when the concussion occurred.

"I'm just resting and not doing anything at all," said Stevens, who hadn't missed a regular-season game since the 1999-2000 season. "It's really difficult. I'm used to being active, especially this time of year. I need to step back and rest."

Stevens missed a game earlier this season because of the death of a relative. The only two games the 22-year NHL veteran didn't dress for in the three previous seasons were when he was a healthy scratch.

with files from Associated Press