New York Rangers defenseman Kevin Klein recovered from a grisly ear gash to play the role of hero Monday night.
Klein took a high stick from Pittsburgh Penguins forward Zach Sill in the first period of the Rangers' 4-3 overtime win, a play for which Sill was given a four-minute minor penalty.
(Courtesy: MSG, via Jason Gold)
The blue-liner stayed in the game and scored the overtime winner with 1:15 remaining in the extra frame, hitting a new career high with his sixth goal of the season.
Head coach Alain Vigneault said afterward that part of Klein's ear had to be reattached.
AV on Klein's ear: "He lost a piece of it and they sewed it back. Say what you want about hockey players, but they're tough SOBs boys."
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) December 9, 2014
Kevin Klein and Evander Holyfield, forever linked.
- With h/t to CBS Eye on Hockey