Most professional athletes go into broadcasting after their playing careers are over. Hockey players might want to look into dentistry.
In just the latest example of the long hockey tradition of on-ice oral surgeries, John Tavares took an errant puck to the mouth during the Islanders’ 3-2 loss to the Blackhawks on Friday night. During a scrum with Andrew Shaw along the boards, the puck skipped off a stick and straight into Tavares’ mouth.
The 2013 Hart Trophy finalist is by far the most important player on an Islanders squad that, much like Patrick Roy‘s resurgent Colorado Avalanche, expects to take the next step on the NHL stage. Tavares wasn’t going to let a simple chunk of vulcanized rubber smashing into his face stop him from playing — when he got to the bench, Tavares reached inside his mouth and popped a loose tooth from his grill as calmly as if it was just something stuck between his teeth.
Though the Isles would eventually fall to the Blackhawks, there’s consolation for Tavares. His morning brushing routine now takes about 10 seconds less.
Check out Tavares’ self-diagnosis in the GIF below.
Photo/GIF via CSNChicago
