Jets’ Forward Namestnikov Hospitalized Following Puck Impact to Face

DENVER (AP) — Winnipeg’s Vladislav Namestnikov was transported to the hospital for assessment after being struck in the left side of his face by a puck during Game 4 against Colorado on Sunday.

Jets coach Rick Bowness provided no further updates on Namestnikov following a 5-1 defeat in the first-round series, which Colorado currently leads 3-1.

Namestnikov was attempting to avoid a shot from teammate Nate Schmidt when the puck deflected off a stick and hit him midway through the third period. He remained on the ice as trainers swiftly attended to him, ultimately skating off with assistance and exiting via the Avalanche bench. The 31-year-old had a towel applied to his face to control the bleeding.

“It’s alarming,” remarked Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele. “You never want to witness that level of blood, regardless of the circumstances or the individual. Especially a member of our team. That’s distressing. All we can do is hope and pray for his well-being. It’s a frightening situation. We just have to keep him in our thoughts.”

Nashville’s captain Roman Josi and Vancouver’s defenseman Tyler Myers both endured facial impacts from pucks in the first period of their Game 4 clash on Sunday. However, both players returned to action early in the second period.

Josi, the recipient of the 2020 Norris Trophy, sustained an injury near his right ear. He briefly returned to the ice for his seventh shift of the period but was promptly directed to the bench by an official, subsequently heading to the tunnel for treatment after logging just 4:53 of ice time in the first.

During the same period, Nashville’s center Tommy Novak’s shot struck Myers near his nose with 1:35 remaining, prompting Myers to drop to the ice. He was attended to by a trainer who applied a towel to his face before escorting him off the ice for further evaluation.

This marks the second unsettling incident involving the Jets during the series. In Friday’s game, Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon sustained a hand laceration that necessitated stitches. Dillon appeared to have been cut by a skate blade during a post-game altercation. He was sidelined for Sunday’s game.

“There are numerous stitches holding it together, so our medical staff is cautious about rushing him back so soon,” stated Bowness. “If you were to ask him, he would want to play. He would simply tape up his entire hand and play. He has that level of determination.”