Thursday’s meeting between the Washington Capitals and Florida Panthers was delayed due to assigned emergency medical technicians responding to an accident on the nearby stretch of the Interstate 595 highway.
The game was scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET, but puck drop took place at approximately 7:55 p.m. only after emergency personnel arrived at the arena.
NHL emergency standards dictate that two doctors must be present for all games. Clubs are also required to have an ambulance dedicated to players on-site at ice level and staffed by appropriate emergency responders.
The league’s strict emergency protocol has been credited with saving the life of former Dallas Stars forward Rich Peverley when he collapsed on the bench with a “cardiac incident” during a game versus the Columbus Blue Jackets in March of 2014.