St. Louis Blues forward Dylan Holloway was sent off on a stretcher after being hit in the neck by a shot from Tampa Bay’s Nick Paul in the first period of Tuesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The incident occurred with 2 minutes and 37 seconds left in the first period. After Holloway was hit, the Blues went on the attack and Holloway joined teammate Jordan Caillou for a scoring chance.
Although the Blues did not score, Holloway remained on the ice and allowed his team to maintain possession of the ball. The puck eventually left the offensive zone and Holloway reset the play before skating to the bench for a line change with about 2:15 left in the period.
Holloway appeared to be sliding on the ice in some discomfort and tilted his head to the right before taking his seat. Play was stopped due to a penalty with 1:11 left in the period.
There was an uproar on the Blues’ bench as officials announced the penalty, and the players called for medics. Teammate Alexei Trobchenko noticed something was wrong and alerted Blues athletic trainer Ray Baril.
Barile continued to hold Holloway’s neck to support his head while medical staff inside the arena ran across the ice to the Blues’ bench to provide further assistance.
“I was sitting next to him and I could see something happening,” Trobchenko said. “He’s our teammate and we worry about each other, especially when we have moments like this, we worry even more.”
Players from both teams vacated their benches and knelt on the ice while Holloway was treated. Holloway was eventually placed on a stretcher, driven back to the Blues’ locker room, and taken by ambulance to the hospital.
During the Blues’ 3-2 win, the team announced that Holloway was alert and stable.
Afterward, coach Drew Bannister said, “From what we’ve heard, he’s doing well. He’s conscious and in good condition, so that’s a good sign.”
Several Blues players said they were relieved that general manager Doug Armstrong gave the team an update after the second period.
Blues and Lightning players will wait on the ice for Holloway to be treated by specialists on the medical staff. (Photo: Scott Rovak/NHLI, via Getty Images)
“I saw him get hit with the puck, and then he went on a 2-on-1 (rush),” Blues captain Brayden Schenn said.
For Schenn, it reminded him of February 2020, when defenseman Jay Bouwmeester suffered a heart attack during a game in Anaheim.
“It’s not a fun bench situation considering what we went through with Jay,” Schenn said. “When everyone starts screaming, you don’t even know what the problem is.
“Thankfully Ray and[assistants Dustin Flynn and Brendan McClew]stepped up. It’s awful to be involved in a situation like that, but he’s a calming influence around you. When you have people, people who know what they’re doing, everyone feels a little better at that time.”
The referees ended the first period with 1 minute and 11 seconds remaining and resumed the period after the first intermission. The Blues were trailing 1-0 by the Lightning at the time, but scored three goals in the second period to secure their second straight victory.
“The only way I can tell you is if you’re at work and you get a call and someone in your family is sick and taken to the hospital,” Bannister said. “Holly is part of the family. It’s been difficult.”
Holloway, 23, is in his first season in St. Louis after spending the first two years of his NHL career with the Edmonton Oilers, who drafted him No. 14 in 2020. Entering Tuesday, Holloway had six points (four goals, two assists in 12 games this season) and was averaging a career-high 15 minutes, 50 seconds on ice per game. It was.
(Photo: Jeff Currie/Imagn Images)
