Flyers' Neuvirth says he suffered concussion when he collapsed

Goalie Michal Neuvirth said he was feeling better after his frightening first-period collapse against New Jersey on April 1.

"I still have little headaches, but I'm feeling good," he said Tuesday after the Flyers had exit interviews with their coaching staff and general manager Ron Hextall at the Skate Zone in Voorhees.

In his first public comments since the incident, Neuvirth said he became dizzy and started seeing double when he collapsed to the ice, and he admitted he has not watched a replay of his fall - and probably never will.

"I don't think I'm going to watch it. It was scary and a lot of people were afraid," he said. "It was a tough situation."

Neuvirth, who said he suffered a concussion and injured his neck when his head hit the ice, said he had been battling the flu and a sinus infection for a few days.

"As a hockey player, you want to be tough, you want to play through injuries and sickness," he said. "Sometimes I think you have to be smarter."

He said it was a "tough situation" that night because Steve Mason was ill and Phantoms goalie Anthony Stolarz was en route to the game during warm-ups. "It was only me to play," he said. "I was drinking a lot of fluids and had a good nap before the game. I was good enough to go."

Neuvirth, 29, who recently signed a two-year contract for a total of $5 million, had a disappointing season: an 11-11-1 record, a 2.82 goals-against average, and an .891 save percentage.

"It was a tough season for me, a lot up and downs," he said. "I know I can be way better and be more consistent than I was this year. I'm going to use this year as motivation . . . to prove I can be the same goalie I was last year."

He had a career season in 2015-16.

If Neuvirth isn't protected in the expansion draft, he could be selected by the new Las Vegas team, whose general manager, George McPhee, was with Washington when Neuvirth was there. There has also been speculation Neuvirth could be dealt to Vegas.

"You never know in this business," Neuvirth said. "For me, my mind-set is I'm coming back to the Flyers. I love the team here. Love the guys. It's a great organization. When I was sick here the last week, they took such good care of me. Just high class."

Defenseman Nick Schultz, 34, said he knows he won't be back with the Flyers but hopes he gets an opportunity elsewhere. Schultz, who played in just 28 games this season, will become an unrestricted free agent.

Michael Del Zotto, another unrestricted free agent, also said he talked with Hextall, who told him the Flyers planned to go with young players on the back end next season. "I'm pretty positive this is my last day at the Skate Zone," Del Zotto said. "It's unfortunate and a little emotional. I've been here three years and made some great friendships."

Flyers coach Dave Hakstol was named one of Canada's assistants for the IIHF world championships next month. Tampa Bay's Jon Cooper is the head coach.

The NHL draft lottery will be held April 29. The Flyers have a 2.2 percent chance of getting the top pick.

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