Blue Jackets' Matt Calvert Takes Slap Shot To The Face, Gets 36 Stitches, Then Scores Game Winner

36 stitches. 2 points. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/bru7ql7pRB
— ColumbusBlueJackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) November 19, 2016

Let's start with the happy ending here, shall we? Winger Matt Calvert scored the game winner (above) in the Columbus Blue Jackets' 4-2 victory over the New York Rangers! But not before getting his face ripped open by a slap shot. And it looked extra not comfortable.

Early in the second period, Calvert found himself unfortunately drifting into the line of fire, as Rangers defender Nick Holden ripped a slapshot with no other destination than Calvert's face. It was the kind of shot that would've made a cannon look gentle. Calvert immediately threw off his gloves and fell to his hands and knees, leaking out a bloody puddle on the ice below.

Take a look, if you're not too squeamish.

Per Redditor Flintor, #BlueJackets fwd Matt Calvert takes puck to the face and…ouch. Not for the squeamish. pic.twitter.com/aMZoqb89dN
— Andy Cole (@AndyCole84) November 19, 2016

Calvert, understandably, hauled himself off to the locker room, where he was given exactly 36 stitches to piece himself back together. And then somehow—perhaps terrifyingly—Calvert met NHL concussion protocol, and they sent the dude back out on the ice. He went on to score the Blue Jackets' third goal, which would ultimately be the difference maker. And did it spectacularly as well. (See happy ending above.)

Here he is, grinning mightily with his Franken-forehead.

A huge shoutout to my linemate @mattcalvert11 for taking 36 stitches and returning to the game in the third period #GWG # warrior pic.twitter.com/80Ho3Sjjxn
— Josh Anderson (@joshanderson_77) November 19, 2016

Implicit moral of the story: don't pick a fight with a hockey player. They're some tough dudes.