Hockey players don't sit on the sidelines with blisters or hangnails. They are tough. Don't believe us? Drew Miller's recent close call reminded us that he's not the only one who has taken a blade or puck to the face. And with the playoffs approaching, you know there will be more incidents of players bleeding profusely in one play and then getting patched up and rushing back out there for the next shift. Because hockey.
Below are five notably gruesome injuries from hockey. (NSFM: Not suitable for mealtime.)
Thank God, Miller's eye was not damaged. pic.twitter.com/0oKR3YO2YF
— Red Wings Memes (@RedWingsMemes) April 1, 2015
Drew Miller: In a game against the Ottawa Senators earlier this week, the skate of Mark Stone kicked up after a faceoff and struck Miller's face, cutting his cheek and eyelid for a wound that took 60 stitches to close.
Fight in the first. Puck in the face in the second #hockey pic.twitter.com/g9eRIoW6gt
— Ryan Olsen (@rolsen94) March 28, 2015
Ryan Olsen: In a game on March 27, the Winnipeg Jets prospect fought the Portland Pirates' Phil Lane in the first period and took a puck to the face in the second period. His third period was a piece of cake.
Devils F Martin Havlat is joking about his face: "At least I don´t need any mask for Halloween..." pic.twitter.com/cVBzazChR8
— Zdenek Janda (@zdenek_janda) October 20, 2014
Martin Havlat: In a game on Oct. 16, 2014, Havlat was pushed into referee Darcy Burchell and somehow was cut for 40 stitches. He suited up for the next game.
Taylor Hall: Cut on Hall's head and forehead, caused by a teammate's skate after a collision during pregame warm-up against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Jan. 17, 2012, took 30 stitches to close.
Borje Salming: Cut on the face after being accidentally stepped on in the crease by the Detroit Red Wings' Gerard Gallant during a game on Nov. 26, 1986, Salming's wound took 200 stitches to close. He was back on the ice three days later.
