Zach Werenski

Zach Werenski will miss the rest of the season after taking a puck to the face

Published Apr. 17, 2017 12:58 p.m. ET

Pete Blackburn

Blue Jackets' defenseman Zach Werenski took a puck straight to the face during Sunday's Game 3 in Columbus, and he did his best to battle through it. He made it further than most of us non-hockey folk would have by getting stitched up and returning to the game sporting a massive, swollen black eye with a gnarly cut underneath.

Werenski eventually had to leave the game once the eye was too swollen to see out of, and the picture he shared after the game was pretty horrific:

https://twitter.com/ZachWerenski/status/853788533672333313

On Monday morning, the Blue Jackets announced that Werenski's season was over due to a facial fracture.

That season may only be one more game (the Penguins currently lead the Jackets three games to none in their opening-round series) but losing Werenski is a huge blow. The 19-year-old rookie has been tremendous on Columbus' blue line this season.

https://twitter.com/BlueJacketsNHL/status/854004700051648515

If it's any consolation, he'll be going out in the good graces of his teammates, coaches and fans. Following Sunday's loss, the perpetually-cranky Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella praised Werenski, saying he has "balls as big as the building."

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Zach Werenski

Columbus Blue Jackets

National Hockey League