Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

Devils Nico Hischier Suffers Face Laceration at Worlds

Originally posted on New Jersey Hockey Now
By James Nichols | Last updated 5/13/24

Injuries mounted for the New Jersey Devils in the 2023-24 season. It’s one of the reasons why the Devils had such a setback last season after collecting 112 points in 2022-23. Now, it’s the offseason as the Devils failed to qualify for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. As a result, some Devils players are working on their games at the 2024 IIHF World Championships. In tournament play on Monday, Devils captain Nico Hischier suffered a quite the scary injury.

Playing for Team Switzerland, Hischier — similarly to his role with New Jersey — is one of the Swiss’ top forwards.

In Switzerland’s tilt against Team Czechia on Monday, the Devils captain drove the Czech net with the puck on the end of his stick. As Hischier was attacking the net, the Devils captain lost his footing and slide into Czech goaltender and Anaheim Ducks netminder, Lukas Dostal.

On his way down to the ice, Hischier collided with a pair of Czech defenders, suffering a face laceration and wound up quite bloody.

Nico Hischier will need some repairs after this collision.

A little bit of blood, but he was lucky he didn't get a skate blade to the face. #MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/hOCN4ehR05

— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) May 13, 2024

Fortunately, Hischier took a trip to the locker room, got stitched up, and returned to the game, although he was wearing a different jersey as his No. 13 was covered in blood. Instead, he sported a No. 49 jersey with a blank nameplate. New Jersey’s captain appears to have avoided an injury other than a cut on his face.

Nico Hischier got cut in the face, returned in a different jersey (original had blood) & did not participate in the shootout.

Seems to have avoided a worst case, though. Smiling after a big win for Switzerland.#NJDevils
pic.twitter.com/l4a5PaTTkY

— Daniel Amoia (@daniel_amoia) May 13, 2024

Hischier didn’t miss much time at all, finishing the contest recording 21:54 of ice time. The Devils captain registered an assist on a goal by Los Angeles Kings forward Kevin Fiala en route to a 2-1 shootout victory over Czechia.

Switzerland now leads Group A of the World tournament with eight points, winning two games in regulation and one in overtime, while suffering no losses thus far.

Hischier and Switzerland take on Great Britain next on Wednesday.

This article first appeared on New Jersey Hockey Now and was syndicated with permission.

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