Alex Galchenyuk takes teammate's blasted shot to the face in frightening KHL scene
Photo credit: USA TODAY Sports
Alex Galchenyuk is doing fine after taking a puck square to the face during a KHL game this week, and Spartak Moscow just confirmed it.
The former Montreal Canadiens first round pick has been carving out a second act overseas with HC Spartak Moscow, and this past week gave fans a scare they will not soon forget.
During a game against SKA Saint Petersburg, Galchenyuk turned away just in time as his own teammate, Joseph Keane, unloaded a shot from the point that never made it past him.
The puck caught Galchenyuk on the side of the face, and the images that followed were rough to look at, with his eye swollen almost completely shut.
How bad was the damage
Despite the scary visual, Galchenyuk popped right back up and stayed in the game, which tells you everything about how tough this guy actually is.
Keane, for his part, looked shaken watching it happen to his own teammate, knowing there was nothing malicious about it at all.
It was simply a shot that found the worst possible landing spot.
A few days later, the KHL account gave everyone the update they were waiting for.
What comes next for Galchenyuk
The 32 year old has bounced around plenty of NHL organizations over the years, including Arizona, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Ottawa and Toronto, before eventually landing in the KHL.
He has quietly put together a solid season with Spartak, and this scare does not appear likely to slow him down for long.
Expect him back in the lineup soon, probably with a great story to tell about the play that nearly cost him an eye.
Hockey players really do seem built differently sometimes.
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