Atlanta goalie Pavelec stable after collapse

Atlanta Thrashers Czech goaltender Ondřej Pavelec is said to be in stable condition in hospital after collapsing on the ice during the opening minutes of a National Hockey League game on Friday. The 23-year-old from Kladno fell backwards and lost consciousness during the opening minutes of the game between Atlanta Thrashers and Washington Capitals. Medics worked over him for ten minutes before he was wheeled off the ice. The team said in a release shortly after that initial tests had come up negative as to a possible cause of the collapse and that Pavelec would be kept in hospital for observation. After a delay of twenty minutes, Atlanta went on to win the game 4-2.