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Thrashers' Pavelec collapses, taken off on stretcher
Friday, 10.08.2010 / 8:23 PM / News
NHL.com
Atlanta goaltender Ondrej Pavelec collapsed on the ice and had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher just 2:35 into the Thrashers' season-opener against Washington on Friday night.
With play stopped after a whistle in the Washington zone and just 2:35 gone in the game, Pavelec collapsed onto his back a few feet in front of the Atlanta net and did not move. Medical personnel from both teams raced onto the ice, and after several minutes he was taken off on a stretcher.
The Thrashers said Pavelec lost consciousness and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation, but that no other details were available.
Chris Mason replaced Pavelec in goal for the Thrashers when the game resumed after a delay of nearly 20 minutes. He allowed the game's first goal, by Brooks Laich, less than a minute after entering the game.
Pavelec, a 23-year-old Kladno, Czech Republic, native took over the team's No. 1 goaltending duties last season, playing 42 games with a .906 save percentage and 3.29 goals-against-average.