Stars mourn death of Kobe Bryant before game against Lightning

DALLAS -- One day after Kobe Bryant's death stunned the sports world, the Dallas Stars paid tribute to the basketball legend before
Monday's 3-2 overtime win
over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The team played a pregame photo montage on the American Airlines Center video board and held a moment of silence for Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna,
who were both killed Sunday
along with seven others in a helicopter crash outside Los Angeles.

Bryant, a five-time NBA champion and 18-time All-Star in 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, was 41.

The NHL released a statement in response to Bryant's death Sunday:
"The National Hockey League offers its condolences to the family of NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, and to the families and friends of all those who tragically perished today."
In addition to the Stars organization, which donated proceeds from the night's 50/50 Raffle to the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, several other hockey greats mourned the loss of the sports icon, including Wayne Gretzky and Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar.

The Dallas Mavericks also saluted Bryant, who ranks fourth on the NBA's all-time scoring list and will be
posthumously inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame
later this year, during their game Monday at Oklahoma City.

Don't miss your chance to see the Stars take on the Toronto Maple Leafs at American Airlines Center on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Get your tickets now!
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Jeff Odom is the manager of DallasStars.com and writes about the Stars/NHL. Follow him on Twitter @jeffodom.