Zach Hyman‘s impressive scoring streak came with a scare Monday night after he took a deflected Evan Bouchard slap shot to the face in the middle of the second period. The Edmonton Oilers forward, who had already notched two goals in the game, left the ice immediately for medical attention, sparking concern among fans. There was no update on Hyman as the second period ended and the hope is that Hyman is not injured.
** Update: Hyman did return for the third with a full face shield helmet and a very bruised nose.
Hyman’s second goal of the night, a breakaway beauty, highlighted his red-hot form since returning from his first injury of the season. He now has seven goals in his last six games, proving his potent offense was back after a slower start to the season.
However, the focus quickly shifted when Bouchard unleashed a “Bouch Bomb” that deflected and struck Hyman’s visor with alarming force. It was clear the visor didn’t stop everything. Despite being one of the toughest players in the NHL—often described as someone who shrugs off even the hardest hits—Hyman immediately left the game, a clear sign something was wrong. The commentators of the game on Amazon said there was blood on the ice.
The Oilers had to be relieved when Hyman returned. Amazingly, he almost scored on a breakaway early in the third to try and finish off the hat trick.
The Hyman Shot To the Face Looked BadTaking a 95-mph slapshot to the face is no minor incident, even with protective gear. While the visor likely mitigated the damage, there was still concern about potential injury, whether it be cuts, fractures, or concussion-like symptoms. The big concern was damage to the eye area.
Zach Hyman injured for the Oilers in the second period versus the PanthersThe fact that Hyman came back to the game shows how tough he is. If he didn’t break his nose, he got as close as it came.
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