Devante Smith-Pelly's Monday morning did not start the way he had planned. While on the ice prior to the team's morning skate, the Caps forward took a puck to the face and had to leave the ice.
Smith-Pelly was not on the ice for line rushes — Alex Chiasson skated in his place on the fourth line — but he did return for the end of the skate.
“A little wakeup call," Smith-Pelly said. "I’ve got all my teeth except for that one [previously missing]. I’ll be fine.”
DSP just took a puck to the face
— FriendsinColdPlaces (@inColdPlacesDC) June 4, 2018
Skates off
Please be ok#caps #allcaps pic.twitter.com/0KE9h1ujGK
Smith-Pelly told reporters he was fine for Game 4, but was unsure if he would need stitches before then.
“It’s just glued right now. I don’t know if I might have to get stitches later. It’s still dripping blood."
Based on how he looked while speaking with the media, it is a good bet that further repairs will be needed.
Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly gave a morning skate interview with blood dripping down his face onto his arm. https://t.co/JpD2iGPsbh pic.twitter.com/tBZxEV6uff
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) June 4, 2018
The puck came off the stick of Andre Burakovsky who Smith-Pelly seemed to hint may need to work on accuracy of his slap shot.
"[Burakovsky] was trying to take a slap shot," Smith-Pelly said. "It kind of rolled. I don’t know how close I was to the net. I don’t think I was that close, but whatever."
Smith-Pelly also made clear that more than an apology will be required of the young winger to make amends.
"At least a dinner," he said. "The minimum a dinner, at least.”
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