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Skate To The Face Scares Lightning's St. Louis

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 15, 2008

TAMPA Across the bridge of Marty St. Louis' nose and up his forehead, inches above his eyebrows, rest a pair of cuts that have been closed with a handful of stitches and medical glue.

The marks on his face look somewhat grotesque at first glance, but considering how bad it could have been given how the skate blade of linesman Derek Amell passed across his face, St. Louis suffered only a glancing blow.

When it happened in the final minute of Saturday's game at Ottawa, however, St. Louis knew only one thing for sure as blood began to drip off his face onto the ice like a leaky faucet — he needed help immediately.

"I knew I was cut right away," he said. "I knew I had to get to the bench because I didn't know how much blood I was actually losing. It was dripping, I was scared, I needed some help."

To what extent, St. Louis wasn't entirely sure in those moments of panic, except he knew his vision was not in jeopardy.

"I knew my eyes were fine, but I didn't know if my brain was sticking out of my head," he said. "I knew there was a bone there. ... It's obviously an overstatement, but it felt like I was cut all the way down my forehead. I felt like my bone was probably exposed."

It's the second time this season St. Louis has required stitches to his face. He was struck in the face during a game earlier this season, forcing him to miss almost a full period.

So, for practice on Monday, St. Louis wore a visor, although he had it removed before heading to the locker room. He didn't say whether he intends to wear one on a full-time basis and isn't sure a visor would have protected him on Saturday.

"I think if I had a visor his skate probably stops at my visor and cuts my mouth," he said. "It makes you think about [wearing a visor] ... but it's a personal decision."

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835.

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