They say hockey players are among the toughest athletes in the world and Edmonton Oilers star Zach Hyman made sure to prove that last night.
It may not have ended the way that the Oilers wanted with a 6-5 loss to the Florida Panthers, but it was one full of ups and downs for Hyman. The 32-year-old netted two goals on the night, including a beautiful breakaway goal, and also took a nasty puck to the face off a shot from teammate Evan Bouchard.
OUCH 😳
Hyman took a Bouch bomb right to the face. Hope he’s okay 🙏 pic.twitter.com/8XIDiQ8mzZ
— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) December 17, 2024
He immediately clutched his face and went to the dressing room and it was clear he was bleeding. This kept him out for the last half of the second period, but sure enough, he was back in the game for the third sporting a nasty cut on the nose, a bubble helmet, and a blood-stained Oilers jersey.
It was as tough as he’s ever looked.
“It’s never easy to see a teammate in a pretty gruesome situation,” Oilers captain Connor McDavid said of the play. “It’s great to see him back out there, though, gutted it out, that was pretty nasty.”
Zach Hyman is back for the 3rd period after taking a puck to the face because hockey players 😅 pic.twitter.com/2nbFZbGE2c
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) December 17, 2024
Hyman nearly scored a hat trick goal during his first shift with the bubble but was unable to solve Sergei Bobrovsky for the rest of the night. His teammates admired the way he was able to come back into the game after such an ugly-looking play.
“For him to battle the way he did and come out there in the third says a lot about his character,” said Connor Brown. “Just wish we could have gotten the win for him.” =
Hyman has been red-hot since returning to the lineup. The former 50-goal scorer has finally been finding the back of the net lately with seven goals in his last six games.
You have to think that Team Canada’s Four Nations Face-Off team is kicking themselves for leaving him off the roster at this point.