Niklas Hjalmarsson leaves game after taking puck to the face
That is a lot of blood.
Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Every NHL player accepts they may one day get hit in the face by a puck. It's a natural risk of playing hockey. But we're not sure many players are ever prepared to lose as much blood as Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson did on Saturday in Toronto.
Midway through the second period, Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly attempted a pass that deflected off Blackhawks winger Andrew Shaw's stick. Hjalmarsson, who doesn't wear a visor, was in the wrong place at the wrong time and took the puck under his left eye.
The injury did not look good. (Warning: the following images contain a sizable amount of blood.)
Niklas Hjalmarsson woozy and bloody after taking a puck to the face. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/TX3ddENVzN
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) November 2, 2014 Yikes, Hjalmarsson (via @r_fredriksson). pic.twitter.com/qdDI9GPr9e
— Sean Gentille (@seangentille) November 2, 2014 Whether the Chicago defenseman returns to the game remains to be seen.
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