NEW YORK -- Flyers general manager Ron Hextall refused to say exactly what was the final diagnosis on goalie Michal Neuvirth, but outward signs seem to indicate a sinus infection and chest cold.
Given all his medical tests came back negative for anything else and this was the one issue that had been lingering with Neuvirth, it's safe to say that's why he passed out in his crease during the opening minutes of Saturday's 3-0 win over New Jersey.
"My understanding is his sinus was clogged up and that has something to do with it," Hextall said Sunday, reiterating he's not a doctor.
Doctors are not permitted to speak to the media.
"He didn't know [what happened]," Hextall said. "He said neutral zone faceoff and got a little dizzy."
Neuvirth was dehydrated, too.
"Again, I don't want to get into details, but dehydration affects the body in funny ways, so I am sure when you get sick, hydration is an issue," Hextall said. "I am sure it was probably tied in there. All the tests came back normal."
Hextall said that Steve Mason, who missed Saturday's game entirely, had a stomach virus. Mason backed up Anthony Stolarz during Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Rangers (see game story).
Several players said a flu bug has been going around the dressing room for a while now and weren't surprised that Neuvirth might have been affected.
Asked whether he was comfortable his medical team didn't miss any significant signs that they need to be aware of in the future, Hextall said he had full confidence his medical team handled things correctly.
"I don't think there is a whole lot that can be done there," Hextall said. "I have he had a sinus infection for a month-and-a-half now. Guys have had it, too.
"If guys didn't play when they had a little sniffle, then we wouldn't have too many players for the whole year. We'd play a dozen every night."
Returned
Nick Schultz, a healthy scratch for four games, returned to the lineup in place of Radko Gudas (concussion). Since the All-Star break, Schultz had been scratched 17 of 28 games.
Dual shutout
Saturday was the Flyers' first shared goaltender shutout since Nov. 15, 2001, when Brian Boucher and Roman Cechmanek combined to shut out the Washington Capitals, 5-0, in Philadelphia. It is just the third combined shutout on record in Flyers history, joining that one and one by Ron Hextall and John Vanbiesbrouck on Jan. 9, 1999, a 2-0 win against Carolina.
