Fischer much better a day after seizure

DETROIT -- Red Wings defenseman Jiri Fischer was "doing very, very well" Tuesday, a day after he collapsed on the bench and his heart stopped during a game.

"The great news is that Jiri Fischer is doing very, very well," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said Tuesday.

Holland and team physician Tony Colucci -- who performed CPR to 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. An auto defibrillator was used on Fischer before he was taken out of the arena by ambulance to Detroit Receiving Hospital.

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," Colucci said.

Colucci said he didn't know when Fischer could play again or how long he will remain in the hospital.

"We're going to evaluate him on a daily basis," he said.

Fischer was diagnosed with a heart abnormality in September 2002, causing him to miss two days of practice. The problem was found on an electrocardiogram as part of a routine battery of tests during the Red Wings' preseason physicals.

Colucci said Tuesday that tests were being conducted to determine whether the convulsions were related to the abnormality. When the 2002 result came back, Fischer was given a stress test that he passed. Fischer said his heart essentially is a little thicker than normal.

Team owner Mike Ilitch, Fischer's fiancee, teammates and coaches visited the Czech Republic native in small groups Monday night in the hospital.

Play was stopped with 7:30 left in the period after the Red Wings alerted officials to a problem. Medical personnel worked on Fischer at the door to the bench for several minutes before he was wheeled back toward the Red Wings dressing room.

Holland said Red Wings management consulted with the players, the Predators and the NHL and made the decision to postpone the game.

Holland said it hasn't yet been decided when the game will be played.