Yzerman Has Surgery for Eye Injury

Detroit Red Wing captain Steve Yzerman is out indefinitely after undergoing 4 1/2 hours of surgery for a scratched cornea and broken left eye socket.

Yzerman is expected to make a full recovery, the Red Wings said in a statement Sunday, adding that he will be unavailable to comment for a week.

Yzerman was injured when he was hit in the face with a puck during Detroit’s 1-0 loss to Calgary on Saturday.

He experienced blurred vision in his eye, but that improved after the surgery.

Yzerman, who will turn 39 on May 9, has a franchise-record 70 playoff goals and 181 points in his 20 seasons with the Red Wings. In regular-season games, he’s the sixth-leading scorer in NHL history.

“He’s been a tremendous leader and now it’s up to us to step up,” center Kris Draper said. “Let’s go out and play a great game for him because he’s done so much for us.”

The injury came after a shot by Red Wing defenseman Mathieu Schneider ricocheted and hit Yzerman as he stood to the left of the goal.

From Associated Press