EuroVision: Highlights, notes, tweets and photos from across the pond — where the lockout doesn’t quite translate

Nightmare.

Los Angeles Kings defenceman Alec Martinez, guarding his man in the slot, took a slap shot from the point directly in the face Tuesday.

Martinez had spent last week back at home in Dallas, reports Mayor’s Manor writer John Hoven, and “was feeling pretty good about himself.”

The TPS Turku defenceman returned to Finland early this week and was injured by this Juha Leimu shot in his first period back after the league’s break:

Martinez, who was wearing a half-shield, is at the hospital undergoing scans and tests. Preliminary team reports, Hoven writes, indicate a possible concussion.

Unfortunately, Martinez wasn’t the only casualty as European pro leagues resumed action.

Detroit Red Wings-slash-Jokerit forward Valtteri Filppula was injured in his Finnish return game Tuesday as well:

Red Wings F Valtteri Filppula has sprained right knee, out 6-8 weeks.

— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) November 14, 2012

St. Louis Blues forward Chris Stewart has decided to return to his original lockout team, the Crimmitschau Ice Pirates of Germany’s second-tier league, after just five games (and one assist) with Liberec of the Czech league:

Chris Stewart returns to Crimmitschau for the rest of the #NHLlockout. 1A in 5gp w/Liberec, 5-6-11 in 9gp w/Crimmitschau earlier. #STLBlues

— Matias Strozyk (@MaStrozyk) November 13, 2012

Stewart and best friend/lockout teammate Wayne Simmonds were targeted by racist fans in an ugly Czech incident last month, but Stewart attributed the switch of teams to a lack of playing time.

Will Simmonds follow suit?

Kings captain Dustin Brown made his mark in his Swiss debut, scoring this nice goal for the Zurich Lions:

Scooooooooore by @dustinbrown23

— ZSC Lions (@zsclions) November 13, 2012

Even though Brown was dubbed the game’s “coolest scorer” by his club, the Lions lost 5-3 to Zug. Red Wings Henrik Zetterberg and Damien Brunner had a combined six points in the victory. (With Filppula hurt, expect offseason signee Brunner to get solid minutes for Detroit if the lockout ends soon.)

Dustin Brown Instagrams his new getup, styled by NASCAR, and zinged by Kings teammate Jonathan Quick:

Game jersey instagr.am/p/R-k9eTzeO9/

— dustin brown (@DustinBrown23) November 13, 2012

“@jonathanquick32: @dustinbrown23 are the lions sponsored by Subaru? #canttell” yeah I drive the 32 car you want in on the ads? Great pub.

— dustin brown (@DustinBrown23) November 13, 2012

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul made his first KHL flight Tuesday and his KHL debut Wednesday as the league returned from break with an 11-game slate.

4 hr flight delay? Small blizzard? No problem. Made it to Yugra in one piece. Ready to go tomorrow night. #avtomobilist

— Joffrey Lupul (@JLupul) November 13, 2012

Lupul’s Avtomobilist – the league’s bottom-dweller — lost 2-1 in a shootout to a so-so Yurga team. Lupul, held pointless, was given the shootout’s first attempt but was stopped.

Who says the Eurotalent is weaker? Not New York Ranger Derek Stepan:

Hanging out with Kossu and lamppu playing fifa…. they are schooling me #kalpa

— Derek Stepan (@DerekStepan21) November 14, 2012

Is this what they mean by encouraging superstars to help sell the game?

Hey tweeps just in case anybody is interested in Mora jerseys or some other stuff u can visit this website! moraik.se/signerade-matc… #MoraIK

— Anze Kopitar (@AnzeKopitar) November 14, 2012

And here’s what Nicklas Backstrom looks like now that he’s flipped that slightly-controversial first digit on his Moscow jersey upside down:

I’m sexy and I know it. #caps #backstrom twitter.com/plysenkov/stat…

— Pavel Lysenkov (@plysenkov) November 14, 2012

“Take the number 69! It’s hilarious!”