What do Daniel Winnik and Vincent van Gogh have in common? Neither have an earful
Capitals forward returned to the game despite the injury
Washington forward Daniel Winnik lost a part of his right ear when he was stuck in the head blocking a shot in the Capitals' 4-2 victory Thursday night at Florida.
The only Washington skater who doesn't wear a protective visor, Winnik was hit when he slid to block Reilly Smith's shot in the third period.
Daniel Winnik took a scary puck to the head. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CapitalsTalk?src=hash">#CapitalsTalk</a> <a href="https://t.co/xSooWVOz9K">https://t.co/xSooWVOz9K</a>
—@CSNCapitals"He got the puck sort of in the ear hole and it sort of pinched off his ear," Capitals coach Barry Trotz said Thursday night. "Trainers looked at him, and he was fine, just missing a piece of his ear. It got chewed up a bit. It's just a small piece, but it got chewed up."
The play looked very similar to what happened to Winnik's teammate Tom Wilson two seasons ago, who stayed down for several moments before skating off under his own power. Lucky for Wilson, he didn't lose any part of his face.
Winnik now has something in common with master painter Vincent van Gogh, who cut off part of his own ear. The difference between the two? Winnik was just unlucky, not mad.
Winnik returned to finish the game. He has two goals in four games this season.