On Thursday, Justin Williams scored a goal in the most unfortunate and agonizing way possible.
The Carolina Hurricanes’ captain opened the scoring in the first period against the Florida Panthers after a Brett Pesce shot from the point deflected off of his face and into the net. Williams immediately covered his face in pain.
Justin Williams deflects home a goal with his face and is subsequently injured on the play.#TakeWarning pic.twitter.com/LXz6644hGx
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) February 22, 2019
Justin Williams scores what's got to be the most painful goal in his hockey career. 1-0 Hurricanes: pic.twitter.com/awcZppuy8w
— x – The Rat Trick (@FanSidedTheRat) February 22, 2019
Here’s another angle, and it doesn’t look any less gruesome:
The #Canes got on the board as a result of this deflection
Get well soon, @justinwilliams pic.twitter.com/mr5KS6nAPt
— x – Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) February 22, 2019
Williams is a tough dude. After going to the bench for some repairs he returned to the ice relatively quickly.
Justin Williams is back on the ice, and the #Canes are headed back to the power play with 8:14 left in the first.
— Michael Smith (@MichaelSmithNC) February 22, 2019
The marker is Williams 16th goal of the season. By season’s end, it will probably be his most memorable score.
This play will surely be used in future ‘hockey players are tougher than other athletes” memes – and understandably, so. Williams took the puck like a champ. Thankfully, he didn’t suffer any major damage from the deflection.
