Islanders’ Johnny Boychuk Gets 90 Stitches After Being Hit With Skate Blade Near Eye [Graphic Video]

New York Islanders‘ defenseman Johnny Boychuk left the ice against the Montreal Canadians due to being hit in the face with an ice skate blade.

On Tuesday, Boychuk left the game in the third period after a skate hit what he said felt like his eye. The Islanders’ president and general manager Lou Lamoriello told reporters on Wednesday that Boychuk was fine but had to get 90 stitches as a result of the incident. Lamoriello explained that a plastic surgeon was able to fix him up, and though the number stitches seemed like a lot, they were not big stitches, rather tiny.

“There’s been no damage to his eye,” Lamoriello said. “He felt the skate blade hit his eye, but fortunately just got the eyelid.”

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The Montreal player tripped and fell in front of the goal, lifted his right skate to graze the side of Boychuk’s face near his eye. Boychuk immediately dropped his stick and fell to the ice. He then grabbed his eye and staged in pain. He stood up on his own seconds later and skated off the ice and out the ring to sprint down the tunnel.

Warning: Graphic Video!

On Wednesday, Boychuk tweeted about the incident and thanked fans for their support.

The 13-year veteran has played 63 games for the Islanders this year and scored 11 points. There is not a set time when Boychuk will return to the ice.

The Islanders would go on to lose their game to Montreal, 6-2.

Back in February, there were two incidents of NHL players who suffered skate-related injuries. One of them is a teammate of Boychuk. Islanders forward Casey Cizikas got cut on his leg with a skate against the Flyers. Cizikas was ruled out 3-4 weeks with a leg laceration. The other injury happened to Detroit Red Wings forward Brendan Perlini who took a skate to the right side to his face.

Article by Dante Fields