St. Louis Blues ahead Dylan Holloway left Tuesday’s sport in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning on a stretcher after being hit within the neck space by a shot from Tampa Bay’s Nick Paul within the first interval.
The incident occurred with 2:37 remaining within the first interval. After Holloway was hit, the Blues went on an offensive rush, and Holloway joined teammate Jordan Kyrou for a scoring likelihood.
The Blues didn’t rating, however Holloway allowed the crew to maintain possession as he stayed on the ice. Ultimately, the puck left the offensive zone, and after Holloway reset the play, he skated to the bench for a line change with about 2:15 left within the interval.
Holloway appeared to skate off the ice in some discomfort, tilting his head to the best facet earlier than he took a seat. With 1:11 left within the interval, play was stopped for a penalty.
As officers introduced the penalty, there was a commotion on the Blues’ bench and gamers waived the medics over. Teammate Alexey Toropchenko observed one thing was flawed and alerted Blues athletic coach Ray Barile.
Barile held Holloway’s neck to maintain his head propped up, whereas medics inside the world got here throughout the ice to the Blues bench and supplied additional help.
“I used to be simply sitting beside him and I noticed one thing taking place,” Toropchenko mentioned. “He’s our teammate and we fear about one another, particularly if you’ve bought moments like this, you are worried much more.”
Gamers from each groups cleared their benches to kneel on the ice whereas Holloway was tended to. Ultimately, Holloway was positioned on a stretcher, wheeled again towards the Blues’ locker room and brought by ambulance to the hospital.
In the course of the Blues’ 3-2 win, the crew introduced that Holloway was alert and secure.
Afterward, coach Drew Bannister mentioned, “From what we heard, he’s doing nicely. He’s acutely aware and he’s doing nicely, so it’s an excellent signal.”
A number of Blues gamers mentioned common supervisor Doug Armstrong gave the crew an replace after the second interval, which put their minds comfy.
Gamers from the Blues and Lightning wait on the ice as medical employees professionals deal with Holloway. (Photograph: Scott Rovak / NHLI through Getty Photographs)
“I noticed him get hit with the puck after which he did the 2-on-1 (rush),” Blues captain Brayden Schenn mentioned.
For Schenn, it was harking back to the scene in February 2020, when defenseman Jay Bouwmeester experienced a cardiac episode throughout a sport in Anaheim.
“These bench conditions are usually not enjoyable, with what I’ve been by way of with Jay,” Schenn mentioned. “When everybody begins yelling and screaming, you don’t even know what’s flawed.
“Fortunately we have now Ray and (assistants Dustin Flynn and Brendan McClew) who stepped up. These conditions, they’re terrible to be part of, however when you will have calming influences round you, guys that know what they’re doing, it makes everybody really feel somewhat bit higher on the time.”
The officers ended the primary interval with 1:11 left to play and resumed the interval after the primary intermission. The Blues trailed the Lightning 1-0 on the time however scored three second-period objectives and picked up their second straight win.
“The one method I can put it in direction of you guys is when you’re at work, you get a name and considered one of your loved ones members is sick and rushed to the hospital,” Bannister mentioned. “Holly is a member of the family. That was powerful.”
Holloway, 23, is in his first season with St. Louis after spending the primary two years of his NHL profession with the Edmonton Oilers, who drafted him at No. 14 in 2020. Getting into Tuesday, Holloway had tallied six factors (4 objectives, two assists) in 12 video games this season, averaging a career-high 15:50 minutes of time on ice per sport.
(Photograph: Jeff Curry / Imagn Photographs)
Jeremy Rutherford is a senior author for The Athletic protecting the St. Louis Blues. He has lined the crew because the 2005-06 season, together with a dozen years on the St. Louis Publish-Dispatch. He’s the writer of “Bernie Federko: My Blues Be aware” and “100 Issues Blues Followers Ought to Know & Do Earlier than They Die.” As well as, he’s the Blues Insider for 101 ESPN in St. Louis. Observe Jeremy on Twitter @jprutherford
