Michael Del Zotto’s 2014 came to an end by taking the ice for the first time since December 9, although he would probably have preferred a less painful return.
During his first shift, Del Zotto was cut on the neck by the skate of Daniel Briere from the Colorado Avalanche after falling down. The aftermath was a pretty nasty gash that required stitches to close. However, it didn’t end Del Zotto’s night. The Philadelphia Flyers defenseman would return to action in the second period.
On Thursday, Del Zotto posted the above before & after photos to his Instagram account and my goodness is the first one gruesome. Unfortunately, getting caught by a skate is nothing new to Michael Del Zotto.
“I’ve taken a few skates before so I know the feeling,” Del Zotto told CSN Philly. “I felt it, saw the blood and skated off.
“I put my glove there and saw the blood. I had one once on my side for 50 stitches. It sounds weird to say, but it’s nothing out of the ordinary I guess for me. I’m pretty fortunate it wasn’t worse than it was. It’s frustrating that happening after being out nine games and have that happen on the first shift.”
Fortunate is indeed the right word. Considering the cut was to the neck, the results could have been vastly different. Thankfully, Del Zotto appears to have escaped a serious injury.
H/T Eye On Hockey
