Vancouver Canucks forward Andrei Kuzmenko had to be helped off the ice after he took a puck to the face in the third period of a game against the New York Islanders.
Kuzmenko was standing near the Islanders net when he was struck by a shot from teammate J.T. Miller. He fell to the ice and instantly covered his face with his hands while in visible distress.
Medical staff from the Canucks tended to Kuzmenko and helped him skate off the ice. Blood was visible on the ice.
Kuzmenko had an assist in the game, a 4-3 overtime win for the Canucks, and now has 14 points in 16 games this season.
After the game, head coach Rick Tocchet told the media that Kuzmenko would 'probably' go to the hospital.
"I didn't see him, but somebody said he walked to wherever he was going, which is good," said Tocchet. "I think he took (the puck) right off the chin. So, I don't know, I think he's probably going to the hospital to see. The good thing is, if there's any positive, it's that he walked wherever he was going, which I guess is big."
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