St. Louis Blues forward Dylan Holloway was taken to the hospital Tuesday night after a deflected puck hit him in the throat during a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The game stopped for a few moments as fans and teammates anxiously waited for news.
Reports later confirmed that Holloway was stable and alert, with no breathing issues-a huge relief for the Blues and their fans.
The incident happened with under two minutes left in the first period. A shot by Tampa Bay's Nick Paul bounced off Blues teammate Jordan Kyrou's stick, hitting Holloway above his shoulder pad, in an unprotected spot near his neck.
Despite the painful hit, Holloway finished his shift, cleared the puck, and made his way to the bench, where he showed signs of distress. Teammate Alexey Toropchenko immediately called for the training staff, and head athletic trainer Ray Barile and his team rushed to his aid.
Sources inside the arena said Holloway's parents, who were at the game, joined him at the hospital. Doctors had him undergo a scan to ensure there was no swelling in his neck, and
Barile, who's been with the NHL for 30 years, has handled other critical events, including when Blues defensemen Chris Pronger and Jay Bouwmeester both faced cardiac emergencies.
Luckily for Holloway, his injury wasn't as severe, and at 23, he's already been making an impact with the Blues, scoring six points in his first 12 games.
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