Mitchell takes one for team, in the face

BRANDON, Fla. -- John Mitchell had two thoughts as he skated off the ice in the third period Thursday night with blood pouring from a cut above his right eye after he blocked a shot with his face:

1. Concern for his wife, who was watching the game at home.

2. Frustration.

"You're just frustrated," the Rangers forward said, "because who wants to block a shot with their face? Right?"

Seven stitches later, Mitchell was OK, though he did not return to the Rangers' 5-3 win over the Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C. After getting treatment and speaking with the media, he even remembered to text his wife.

"I can't imagine what my wife was thinking," he said. "Probably watching the game and seeing blood pouring down my face. I texted her to say I was OK. Her first thing was, 'Wear a visor.' "

Mitchell, 26, who was called up on Thanksgiving Day, has played in 163 NHL games. He has not worn a visor in any of them because they can fog up.

SEE PHOTOSLong Island in the pros: NHL edition

That may change Saturday night when the Rangers visit the Lightning in Tampa. After practice Friday, Mitchell said he probably will start wearing a visor.

"That might be a smart thing," he said.

Mitchell was counting his lucky stars after the shot by Joni Pitkanen struck him with 13:18 to go. A few inches lower and the former Maple Leaf might have suffered a serious eye injury.

"He kind of pump-faked and I kind of kept sliding by and then when he finally shot, the only part of my body I could block with was my head," Mitchell said. "I tried to kind of turn at the last second, but it was just a little too late. Luckily, it hit the top of my helmet and came down and caught me. It would have been a lot worse had it hit me straight on."

Mitchell's sacrifice was not unnoticed by coach John Tortorella, who praised his team's willingness to stop shots with their bodies. Derek Stepan stopped one with his left ankle in the third period and was able to return to the game.

Mitchell is OK, but Stepan had postgame X-rays (negative), missed Friday's practice and is questionable for Saturday.

"We're one of the better teams in blocking shots," Tortorella said. "It's something we're asking all of our guys to do. Mitch takes one right in the head, but Step, too. I thought Step was really hurt and then he's ready to play the next shift."