Flyers goalie Michal Neuvirth was awake and alert and being taken to Pennsylvania Hospital after collapsing in his crease early in Saturday night's game against the Devils, according to Philadelphia general manager Ron Hextall.

Neuvirth was awaiting a faceoff at the far end of the ice about 71/2 minutes in when he fell backward and landed on his back.

Neuvirth, making his 28th appearance of the season and first since March 25, appeared to be unconscious for a brief time, but began moving his arms and legs and sat up in his crease before being placed on a stretcher and carted off the ice.

Neuvirth stopped six shots before the incident and did not appear to have any unusual contact in the crease before his collapse. The Flyers were leading 1-0 at the time.

Neuvirth's collapse was eerily similar to the one by former Atlanta Thrashers goalie Ondrej Pavelec in a 2010 game against the Capitals. Neuvirth was the goalie for Washington in that game. AP