Frightening Moment As Flyers’ Goalie Michael Neuvirth Randomly Collapses In Goal, Taken To Hospital

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Michal Neuvirth collapsed during a stoppage of play 7 minutes into his game against the New Jersey Devils. Neuvirth was in his crease by himself with nobody around him and then fell backwards. Flyers athletic trainer Jim McCrossin promptly ran onto the ice to attend to him and was joined by three other team doctors.

“It’s obviously pretty scary when you see your goaltender just collapse like that,” Flyers left wing Chris VandeVelde said. “I’m not sure really what happened, if he fainted or got lightheaded or what, but it was pretty scary, and I’m glad to see he was moving and functioning when he was rolled off the ice.”

Rookie Anthony Stolarz jumped in net in place of Neuvirth after being recalled from the AHL on Saturday afternoon because goaltender Steve Mason was sick. Stolarz did not arrive at the Wells Fargo Center until just before the start and did not take warm-ups before the game. Ain’t no thang–the dude stopped 26 shots to earn his second shutout in the Flyers’ 3-0 win.

Good news out of Flyers camp:

[h/t ESPN]

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Matt’s love of writing was born during a sixth grade assembly when it was announced that his essay titled “Why Drugs Are Bad” had taken first prize in D.A.R.E.’s grade-wide contest. The anti-drug people gave him a $50 savings bond for his brave contribution to crime-fighting, and upon the bond’s maturity 10 years later, he used it to buy his very first bag of marijuana.