The Winnipeg Jets have seen a pair of forwards go down to eye injuries this preseason -- T.J. Galiardi and Patrice Cormier -- but this week, the club breathed a sigh of relief on both fronts.
On Tuesday, head coach Paul Maurice said Cormier suffered no damage after taking a high stick during a 3-1 loss to Edmonton last night, news that came a day after Galiardi spoke for the first time since undergoing surgery for a torn retina.
Galiardi was clipped during practice last Friday and immediately left the ice with a nasty gash. A day later he was having it repaired by a specialist after suffering a cut on the eyeball, a torn sphincter (yes, the eyeball also has a sphincter) in the same area and a torn retina.
“I was pretty scared right away,” said Galiardi Monday, prior to the Jets leaving for Edmonton for their fourth of seven pre-season games. “I’ve never had anything with my eye. I quickly went and saw our team eye doctor and he sent me to a specialist. And then I had to have laser surgery on my retina.
“I feel good right now, actually, so it’s been a pretty quick turnaround.”
Galiardi, signed as a free agent this summer, is waiting for medical clearance to return to the ice. Cormier is listed as day-to-day.