Flyers goalie prospect Anthony Stolarz suffers grisly skate cut in London Knights game

Anthony Stolarz no doubt came into Friday's action hoping to reverse a recent slump, but that is likely the least of the goaltender's and the London Knights' concerns.

During the first period of the Saginaw Spirit-Knights game, the skate of Spirit centre Eric Locke came down on Stolarz's leg during a goal mouth collision after Locke was shoved by Knights defenceman Dakota Mermis. According to media accounts, blood gushed from the wound, staining the ice. Stolarz's pads were taken off of him and he was stretchered off in front of a hushed crowd.

(Update: Stolarz is out for four weeks.)

The Philadelphia Flyers second-round pick is having a decent season for the Memorial Cup-host Knights with a 2.59 average and .925 save percentage.

Stolarz is downplaying the severity:

Nevertheless, it was a scary few moments:

The 19-year-old Stolarz's recent fortunes have been commensurate with those of the Knights. The Memorial Cup hosts are stacked with NHL draft picks but are fourth in the OHL's Western Conference, seven points adrift of the league-leading Erie Otters (whose leading goal scorer, Dane Fox, is an ex-Knight). Stolarz came into the game having allowed at least four goals in four of his last six starts, with the lone exception being a pair of two-goal games vs. the Kitchener Rangers, who are tied for third-last in the 20-team OHL.

Stolarz's netminding partner Jake Patterson is the OHL's most seasoned backup; he replaced Stolarz during last spring's league final when London rallied back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Barrie Colts.

(Stick taps: Cam Charron, Daily Phantic, Ryan Pyette, Ryan Yessie.)

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet. Please address any questions, comments or concerns to btnblog@yahoo.ca.