Hockey sometimes is not for the faint of heart, and this is one of those times.
Capitals forward Daniel Winnik is without slightly less ear than what he had when he started Thursday's game against the Panthers. That piece of ear, described as only a "little piece" by coach Barry Trotz, sits someplace on the BB&T Center ice where Winnik laid out to block a Reilly Smith slap shot in the third period that hit him upside the head.
(WARNING: Graphic images below.)
Winnik, true to his hockey player nature, returned to the game after a brief absence and is fine.