Blues forward Dylan Holloway had to leave Tuesday's game against the Lightning after taking a puck to the neck and being carried off on a stretcher late in the first period.
The scary incident began when Holloway blocked a shot by Tampa winger Nick Paul with his neck with 2:37 left in the opening frame and appeared to be OK.
The forward also took part in a rush from the opposite direction and missed a scoring opportunity before playing the puck along the half boards.
It wasn't until he returned to the bench that he began to show pain in the neck area.
The game was stopped with 1:11 left in the first period, but there was an uproar as the referee called an unrelated penalty and players and the St. Louis bench were seen waving at medical personnel.
Holloway was eventually carried away on a stretcher.
He was taken to a local hospital for tests and observation. Report from Daily Faceoff Doctors said they believed Holloway would be “okay.”
Officials also told the outlet that Holloway's airway was not obstructed and he was breathing without problems.
Holloway is scheduled to undergo what is described as a preventive test at the hospital on Wednesday.
A public address announcer at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis announced during the second hour that Holloway's alert status was stable. The Athletic reported.
St. Louis officials elected to end the first period with 1 minute, 11 seconds remaining and restarted the game after the first intermission.
At the time of the incident, the Blues and Lightning were scoreless.
Holloway is tied for the team lead in goals with four through his first 12 games with the Blues this season, with six points in that span.
