UPDATED: Rangers' defender Marc Staal suffers horrifying eye injury

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=z2aNif71_y0#!

By Allan Muir

Just a horrifying scene in New York tonight where defenseman Marc Staal was left writhing in agony after taking the full force of a Kimmo Timonen slap shot to the face.

The incident unfolded in the Rangers' zone just over five minutes into the third period. After a clean faceoff win by Claude Giroux, the puck came back to Philadelphia's Kimmo Timonen at the point. He got everything on the shot that appeared to change direction off the stick of Jakub Voracek before striking Staal's right eye.

The defender immediately dropped and blood was visible on the ice. He eventually left under his own power.

If this gif showing the moment of impact from the guys over at SB Nation doesn't convince you that visors should be mandatory for every player, you're probably an executive with the NHLPA.

And here's a still image of the moment of impact from NBC's Liam McHugh.

The Rangers offered no details after the game. We'll update when we know more about Staal's condition.

UPDATE:

https://twitter.com/drosennhl/status/309364133042733059

Stick tap to Jeff Mull for pointing out the gif.