Flyers goalie suddenly collapses in frightening scene

Flyers goalie suddenly collapses in frightening scene

PHILADELPHIA — Anthony Stolarz stopped 26 shots to earn his second shutout after replacing Michael Neuvirth early in the first period and the Flyers beat the Devils 3-0 Saturday night.

Neuvirth left the game after collapsing in his crease 7 ¹/₂ minutes into the game. He was carted off the ice on a stretcher and later taken to Pennsylvania Hospital, where he was “awake and alert,” according to Flyers general manager Ron Hextall. Neuvirth stopped all six shots he faced.

“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.”

Cory Schneider stopped 38 shots for the Devils, who lost their sixth straight (0-4-2) and are now 2-14-4 in their last 20 games.

Brayden Schenn, Colin McDonald and Jordan Weal scored for the Flyers, who won their fourth straight game to remain in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt. Philadelphia remained six points behind Boston for the second wild card playoff spot in the East with four games remaining for each team.