Photo Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA TODAY Sports

Vancouver Canucks forward Derek Dorsett is one tough costumer. So you know when he’s abandoning a shift with urgency while the opponent is threatening on in-zone play, and tossing his equipment to the ice, that something is seriously amiss.

In the first period of Tuesday night’s game between the Canucks and the Columbus Blue Jackets, Dorsett left the contest briefly. It appeared that he was cut by the skate of Blue Jackets winger Brandon Saad. Thankfully Dorsett returned to the bench before the end of the period.

Here’s the play in question:

(Courtesy: Sportsnet)

There was no blood on the ice and, thankfully, we can probably assume that Dorsett isn’t too seriously injured since he returned to the bench before the end of the frame, but this is an absolutely terrifying moment. 

Though visors are mandatory for new NHL players, Dorsett is one of the last generation of non-visor wearers in the NHL, and his exemption is grandfathered in. Considering the frequency with which Dorsett drops the gloves, you know he’ll never seriously consider sporting additional facial protection.