Look: Victor Hedman suffers facial gash at worlds

Warning: Story contains graphic images

Tampa Bay Lightning and Team Sweden blue-liner Victor Hedman had a very close call on Friday at the World Hockey Championship in Cologne, Germany.

During Sweden's 8-1 dismantling of Team Italy, Hedman was injured after a mid-ice collision where his visor cracked upon delivering a hit to forward Michele Marchetti.

The visor split and sliced Hedman both below and above his left eye, quite obviously the lower cut was the main cause for concern, needing stitches to close up.

Hedman is suiting up at the worlds for the Tre Kronor for the third time of his career, previously taking home a bronze medal in 2010.