Ducks winger Frank Vatrano needed emergency medical attention Tuesday night after he was drilled near his eye by a puck.
The scary scene unfolded early in the third period of Anaheim’s comeback road win over the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena, when Vatrano went to block a Connor Clifton shot.
The puck ended up careening upward off Vatrano’s stick and struck him right in the cheek. The former All-Star immediately skated off the ice in pain, and blood could be seen pooling around his face as he bolted toward the locker room.
Ducks winger Frank Vatrano was struck in the face by a puck Tuesday night and needed emergency medical attention. Getty Images
Vatrano, 31, later returned to the bench and watched the Ducks pull off a miraculous win.
Skating shorthanded and down 3-2, Beckett Sennecke tied things up with just one second remaining in the game. Anaheim went on to tally a win in an overtime shootout, 4-3.
The Ducks shared an update on Frank Vatrano’s injury following their game against the Penguins, sharing an image of his bloody wound. Anaheim Ducks Instagram
Following the game, the Ducks gave an update on Vatrano’s status on their social media pages, sharing a photo of him with his wound stitched up.
“Frank Vatrano,” the team wrote in a caption. “Hockey player. #FlyTogether.”
Frank Vatrano has been a member of the Ducks since the 2022-23 season. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Vatrano’s played in 29 games for the Ducks this season, and he’s scored three goals while adding one assist. He’s been a part of Anaheim’s roster since the 2022-23 season and made his lone All-Star appearance with the team in 2023-24.
Before that, Vatrano played for the Rangers, Panthers and Bruins.
He won’t have too much time to nurse his wound, as the Ducks are scheduled to be back on the ice Thursday night for a clash with the Islanders in New York.