ICE HOCKEY PLAYERS are a rugged bunch and their numbers keep swelling – much like the nose of Florida Panthers’ John Madden.
The veteran skater put his head down as he chased a put on centre ice, unaware that his team-mate Tomas Kopecky was hurtling in the opposite direction.
The players clashed with a sickening thud and, as Madden squirmed, a trail of blood was left on the ice.
He required treatment on the ice as the game, against the New Jersey Devils, was held up for several minutes.
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Madden went back to the dressing room to seek attention and was patched up and cleared for a return in the next period.
He played his remaining shifts with tissue stuffed up his left nostril and his nose resembling that of a punch-drunk boxer… or former Coventry goalkeeper Steve Ogrisovic.
Madden’s steely efforts were in vain as the Panthers were eliminated from the Stanley Cup play-offs after losing 3-2 to the Devils.
