In one of the most eery and odd injuries you'll ever see in an NHL game, Thrashers goaltender Ondrej Pavelec collapsed on the ice without apparent reason. He was stretchered off the ice just 2:25 into the opening game of the season.
The injury occurred without any other players nearby. Play had stopped for an icing call, and Pavelec collapsed as the two teams were lining up for a face-off on the other side of the ice. The cause of the injury is not yet evident. Pavelec is being replaced in net by Chris Mason, who played for the Blues last season.
Play has still not resumed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Pavelec at this time.
Just prior to the long stoppage, Marcus Johansson almost had his first NHL assist in his very first appearance on the ice. Johansson made a crisp pass to Jason Chimera, but the winger shot the puck just high and wide.