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Canucks' Bieksa expected to play following eye-injury scare, unsure if he'll wear a visor

Ed Szczepanski / USA TODAY Sports

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa took the game day skate Tuesday, just two days after he was struck in the eye by a puck.

Somewhat miraculously, Bieksa - who was seen leaving Rogers Arena with a doctor on Sunday night, and a towel pressed against his right eye - is expected to be back in the Canucks' lineup on Tuesday night against the Colorado Avalanche:

Bieksa was struck in the eye by a puck that took a freak bounce upward after it was swiped at by two sticks in a game against the Nashville Predators. The physical two-way defenseman was sporting a visor at practice on Tuesday morning, but he's unsure if he'll actually wear it in the game

"It's a personal decision and a family decision," Bieksa said of wearing the visor. "It's not something I'm going to sit here and debate in public."

The NHL passed a rule that made visors a mandatory piece of equipment in June of 2013, although that rule is being gradually grandfathered in and doesn't apply specifically to Bieksa.

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