It wasn’t where it hit, but how it hit. And that could have been the difference between life and death.
Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk was part of one of hockey’s scariest possible moments on Thursday night at the Coliseum when he took a skate blade to the throat. Late in the second period, he had hit Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner along the wall, and Marner was upended and his left blade got Boychuk on the left side of his neck.
Quickly, thoughts of Clink Malarchuk and Richard Zednik came rushing to mind. Tragedy seemed like it could have been imminent, and even the raucous crowd hushed for a few moments.