"Thrashers starting goaltender Ondrej Pavelec was taken off the ice on a stretcher after losing consciousness and collapsing during the Thrashers season opener Friday night. According to team officials, Pavelec, 23, was taken to an undisclosed local hospital for further evaluation. Pavelec later regained consciousness and was in stable condition. Preliminary tests were negative and Pavelec was said to be asking about the score of the game from the hospital. He was held overnight for observation. There was no word of the cause of the collapse. "It was awful," said Thrashers goaltender Chris Mason, who came in relief of Pavelec in the 4-2 victory. "You imagine his family across the sea, they are probably following the game and something like that happens. It must be a helpless feeling. It was tough. To be honest, I had trouble focusing when I first got in there. I couldn't stop thinking about him." Thrashers players learned that Pavelec was in stable condition during the first intermission. Defensman Dustin Byfuglien urged teammates to win the game for Pavelec. "It's something where you step up and play hard," Byfuglien said. "He wouldn't have quit working if it happened to someone else. We can't do the same. We felt bad for him. As a team we had to come together and get the victory for him." Pavelec collapsed while the action was at the other end of the ice, just 2:25 into the game. Medical personnel immediately rushed to Pavelec's aid after he was spread out on the ice. Television replay showed Pavelec crouched in the goal crease at the far end of the ice with the Thrashers in the Washington Capitals' zone. When Pavelec came back into view, he was down on the ice." Read more: http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-thrash...retcher/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_thrashers_blog
