Fischer in Good Spirits

Detroit Red Wing defenseman Jiri Fischer was “doing very, very well” Tuesday, a day after he collapsed on the bench during a game and a defibrillator was used to help revive him.

“It’s been a tough 12 hours for our organization,” General Manager Ken Holland said. “The great news is that Jiri Fischer is doing very, very well.”

Holland and team physician Tony Colucci -- who performed CPR on Fischer on the bench Monday night -- said the player was “in good spirits.”

Fischer, 25, began having convulsions on the bench late in the first period of a game against the Nashville Predators. Colucci wasn’t able to detect a pulse after Fischer collapsed, and an auto defibrillator was used on Fischer.

After performing CPR, Colucci said he detected a good pulse and Fischer was taken out of the arena by ambulance to Detroit Receiving Hospital. Colucci said Fischer’s heart might have stopped, but he didn’t know for how long.

Fischer’s blood pressure and heart rate were stable by the time he got to the hospital.

“There’s no way to speculate on what triggered it,” said Colucci, who didn’t know when Fischer could play again or how long he would remain in the hospital.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins shook up their roster after a disappointing first six weeks of the season, sending forwards Rico Fata and Konstantin Koltsov and defenseman Rob Scuderi to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.

Called up from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton were forwards Michel Ouellet and Matt Hussey.

Pittsburgh made the moves after losing 15 of its first 21 games.

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Goaltender Pascal Leclaire and defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen were recalled by the Columbus Blue Jackets from Syracuse of the AHL.