Getty Image / Gerry Angus / Icon Sportswire
The Florida Panthers took a commanding 2-0 lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Thursday.
Florida shocked the Boston Bruins in a fiercely contested Round 1 series (4-3) and the Toronto Maple Leafs stole all 3 road games against Tampa Bay (4-2) to advance. It marked the first time since 2004 the Toronto Maple Leafs made it out of the first round and their expectations are now sky-high.
Losing both home games to start the series is painful for Toronto but surely doesn’t hurt as bad as the puck that Panthers defenseman Josh Mahura took to the face in game 2.
A wayward shot to the left of the net from William Nylander caught him right in the kisser and spilled so much blood it stained the ice red as Josh Mahura was forced out of the game due to the freak injury.
Footage of the puck hitting him in the face went viral on social media. Hockey fans slowed down the clip and shared it from different angles:
Oh man, that looked awful for Josh Mahura. The puck right to the face. Left all bloody. pic.twitter.com/VALxBkkhzs
— Will Manso (@WillManso) May 5, 2023
Here is how it looked from behind the net:
#Panthers defenceman Josh Mahura takes a puck to the face in game 2. Ouch! #Leafs #Florida #Toronto #NHL #playoffs pic.twitter.com/ITHF1P3Vcr
— JosephMatheson (@MathesonJoey) May 5, 2023
Hockey fans instantly recognized the severity of the injury. He never saw the puck coming and even if he did there was no way to protect his face.
Oh gos that looked bad on Josh Mahura. Hope he’s okay.
— Julie Stewart-Binks (@JSB_TV) May 5, 2023
Hope Josh Mahura is OK. That did not look good
— Alex Chauvancy (@AlexC_NJD) May 5, 2023
It really was a lot of blood…
holy SMOKES that was a lot of blood. wishing the best for Josh Mahura. that looked brutal.
— Mike Stephens (@mikeystephens81) May 5, 2023
When the sun came up on Friday morning and the Florida Panthers players reported to practice the first reports of his status came in.
All signs indicate that Josh Mahura will be fine, albeit a little sore today and stitched up after his bloody wounds.
Other Panthers updates:
Josh Mahura is fine. Maurice said he’s “not going to be feeling fresh this morning,” after taking a puck to the face. But they aren’t too worried
Ryan Lomberg is still week-to-week, they are “hopeful” he can return sometime during the playoffs
— Alex Baumgartner (@ABaumgartner91) May 5, 2023
Nothing new on the injury front for the Panthers. Josh Mahura should be fine after taking a cut to the face last night in Toronto. Still no timetable on Ryan Lomberg, who remains week-to-week but has started skating again.
— David Dwork (@DavidDwork) May 5, 2023
Hockey players are just built differently. They’ve all got that dawg in them.