TORONTO -- Toronto Maple Leafs coach Pat Quinn was taken to the hospital Tuesday for tests for an undisclosed chest condition, keeping him out of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes.

"His condition is stable and he's going to stay in the hospital overnight for monitoring, and we hope that he'll be out (Wednesday)," Maple Leafs team doctor Dr. Darrell Ogilvie-Harris said a half-hour before Game 3, won by the Hurricanes in overtime 2-1. "He's in good spirits, although he obviously wishes he was here."

While Ogilvie-Harris wouldn't fully reveal Quinn's ailment, he said it was not heart- or stroke-related. Ogilvie-Harris also said the 59-year-old Quinn had no choice but to remain in the hospital.

"It wasn't a suggestion. It was medically essential that he remain there," Ogilvie-Harris said. "In other words, we wanted to observe his condition and make sure it's safe for him to return. ... It's only serious in that he has to be in for monitoring. But it's not life-threatening.

"But it's something that we want to make sure that he's medically stable."

Pending test results, Ogilvie-Harris said Quinn could return as soon as Game 4 Thursday in the best-of-seven series. Quinn was allowed to watch the game Tuesday on television.

The Maple Leafs trail the series 2-1, losing two consecutive games in overtime.

Following the game, Ogilvie-Harris said there was no change in Quinn's condition.

Rick Ley, Quinn's longtime associate, took over behind the bench in the interim. Ley has stepped in for Quinn at least once a year in Toronto, while Quinn was away attending NHL general manager meetings.

Ley informed Maple Leafs players of Quinn's status as they arrived for the game. Ley spent parts of two seasons as a head coach, replacing Quinn in Vancouver in 1994.

"I hoped that it would be a rallying point and not a distraction," Ley said, following the game. "Basically, over the last two and a half months, we've climbed over a lot of adversity. I hoped we could do it again tonight. I don't know, possibly it was a distraction."

It wasn't easy, center Alyn McCauley said.

"I don't think it helps that you're without your coach," McCauley said. "But I didn't feel like we were handicapped or that it disrupted us behind the bench."

Toronto forward Tie Domi was sorry they couldn't win for Quinn.

"Hopefully, he'll be back," Domi said.

Ogilvie-Harris said the coach was taken to the hospital by ambulance from Quinn's home at around lunchtime.

Ogilvie-Harris said Quinn's ailment is related to the blood tests the Maple Leafs coach underwent Friday in Raleigh, N.C. Quinn complained of shortness of breath and having trouble sleeping a day after Toronto opened the series with a 2-1 victory.

Quinn coached in the 2-1 overtime defeat in Game 2 Sunday and said he felt fine when he was asked about his health Monday.

Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford learned of the news when he arrived for the game.

"I don't know enough about it other than the fact I feel bad for him," Rutherford said. "We wish him well. He's been a friend of mine, and I hope he recovers fine."