April 01, 2017
The Flyers were up 1-0 on the New Jersey Devils in Saturday night's game before something really scary happened: goaltender Michal Neuvirth collapsed on his own in his own crease.
Scary moment in Philadelphia as Michal Neuvirth collapses in the crease. pic.twitter.com/KaH5wgHAQT
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) April 1, 2017
Here's the view of the #Flyers bench immediately after Michal Neuvirth collapses. pic.twitter.com/EyGVv4w2S3
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) April 1, 2017
Neuvirth was able to regain consciousness — He was conscious, but appeared very dazed — and the Flyers medical team was able take him off the ice on a stretcher.
Neuvirth is awake as he's taken off the ice. Gave a wave to the crowd. Scary situation. pic.twitter.com/38l5a9fBRu
— PhillyGirl1437 (@PhillyGirl1437) April 1, 2017
Anthony Stolarz, who was called up from Lehigh Valley at the last minute due to Steve Mason being sick, arrived in Philadelphia without any time to warm up and entered the game midway through the first period.
The good news is that Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said that Neuvirth is "awake and alert" and has been taken to Pennsylvania Hospital. There will be an update on the netminder's condition tomorrow.
Per GM Ron Hextall, Neuvirth is awake and alert and is being taken to Pennsylvania Hospital for observation. More info to come tomorrow.
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) April 2, 2017
Neuvirth and Mason will likely both be unavailable for Sunday night's game against the Rangers, so the Flyers signed former Temple goalie Eric Semborski to serve as the emergency backup to Stolarz. Of course, there could be a roster move at some point prior to the game.
Per #Flyers GM Ron Hextall, serving as emergency back up to goaltender Anthony Stolarz is Eric Semborski. #NJDvsPHI
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) April 2, 2017
For now, however, the Bloomsburg native, who was already in attendance Saturday night because the Flyers were worried Stolarz wouldn't get to the arena in time, is the guy.
And this isn't his first taste of the NHL.
Semborski was signed by the Blackhawks earlier this season when Corey Crawford had to undergo an emergency appendectomy prior to facing the Flyers. It was a pretty great story to begin with – he even got his own trading card – but it got even better on Saturday when he signed with his hometown team.
Follow Rich on Twitter: @rich_hofman
