Islanders’ Johnny Boychuk gets 90 stitches after cut to face by skate

A scary moment as Johnny Boychuk takes Artturi Lehkonen's skate up high, he immediately gets off the ice to get the situation checked out.

New York Islanders defenceman Johnny Boychuk needed 90 stitches on his eyelid after being cut by a skate in Tuesday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens but is expected to make a full recovery, general manager Lou Lamoriello announced.

“Johnny Boychuk is OK. There’s been no damage to his eye but he had quite a night,” Lamoriello said. “He felt the skate blade get his eye but fortunately it just got the eyelid. It took 90 stitches to fix but the plastic surgeon took care of it.

“He’ll be fine, it’s just a matter of time with the eye opening up and him feeling good.”

The incident occurred midway through the third period of Tuesday’s game. While battling with Canadiens forward Artturi Lehkonen in front of the Islanders net, Boychuk was struck in the face by Lehkonen’s skate as he fell to the ice.

Boychuk quickly held his glove to his face, skated off the ice and didn’t return to the game.

The Canadiens won 6-2.

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