Islanders' Johnny Boychuk Receives 90 Stitches on Eyelid After Being Cut by Skate

Johnny Boychuk is expected to "be fine" after he was cut by a skate on his eyelid Tuesday night.

Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuck needed 90 stitches to repair his eyelid after he was cut in the face by the Canadiens' Artturi Lehkonen's skate on Tuesday night.

New York president/general manager Lou Lamoriello said Boychuk's eye was not injured and that "he'll be fine." 

"He had quite a night," Lamoriello said. "He felt the skate blade hit his eye, but fortunately it just got the eyelid and they took 90 stitches to fix. He'll be fine. It's just a matter of time with the eye opening up." 

Boychuk was hit with the blade after Lehkonen kicked his legs while he was falling. Lehkonen's skate moved upwards into Boychuk's face as he started to look down in front of the Islanders' goal.

Johnny Boychuk rushes off the ice after taking Artturi Lehkonen's skate to the face. Very scary. pic.twitter.com/NwpIQAzznP

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) March 4, 2020

After being cut, Boychuk fell to the ice and covered his face with his hands. He skated off under his own power and did not return. He was then treated by team doctors and received 90 stitches.

Boychuk reached out to fans for the first time on Wednesday afternoon, saying that he is thankful the skate did not cut his eye. He also joked that his message was delayed because his "facial recognition wasn't working." 

Thank you to everyone for the positive messages and thoughts! I am extremely grateful. Please know they did not go unheard. Luckily for me the skate only cut my eyelid. Sorry for the late response...facial recognition wasn’t working... thank you again my friends. Johnny B

— Johnny Boychuk 🇺🇦 (@joboych) March 4, 2020

The incident was not the first time Boychuk was cut by a skate during a game. He also took a skate to his neck last season, but later returned that night. 

Boychuk recorded two shots on goal Tuesday, but the Islanders lost to the Canadiens 6-2. There is no timetable set for Boychuk's return.