COLUMBUS, Ohio — Playoff hockey, indeed.
Zach Werenski, the Blue Jackets’ 19-year-old rookie defenseman, took a puck to the face in the second period of Columbus’ 5-4 overtime loss to the Penguins on Sunday, but returned to the game.
As the Penguins came from behind to tie the game on Bryan Rust’s second goal of the game, Werenski was flat on the ice bleeding profusely from the hit. However, Werenski, who had scored a goal in the first period, returned in the third with a full facemask and a significant cut and bruise under his right eye. He was unable to play in the overtime because of selling around the eye.
He posted on Twitter a photo of his face after the game that showed his eye nearly swollen shut. He added the caption: “Playoff hockey…”
The Penguins’ Jake Guentzel had a hat trick, including a goal at 13:10 of overtime for the game winner, but Werenski made the biggest impression of the evening.
Pittsburgh leads the first-round series 3-0.