Atlanta Thrashers goalie Ondrej Pavelec collapsed to the ice in the early minutes of the season-opening game against the Washington Capitals.
There was a whistle at the opposite end of the ice when the 23-year-old Pavelec suddenly fell over backward with no one around. His teammates rushed to his aid and immediately called for doctors and a stretcher to be brought to the ice.
Medical personnel worked over him for about 10 minutes before he was wheeled off the ice. There was no immediate word on his condition or what caused him to collapse.
Pavelec collapsed just 2:25 into the game.
