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Giordano on his visor: ‘I’ll try to get used to it’

Screen Shot 2014-11-15 at 11.06.03 PM

Flames captain Mark Giordano is wearing a visor, for now.

The defenseman had a close call Saturday night after Chris Neil’s stick caught him near his left eye.

Giordano left for repairs, which included stitches on his eyelid, and came back sporting a visor.

“It was close — a close call,” Giordano told the Calgary Herald. “But nothing (damaged on) the actual eye, so that’s a good thing. The stitches are on the outside — it didn’t go through (the eyelid) or anything.”

Flames coach Bob Hartley would like to see all his players wear a visor.

“We’re in an era right now when the game is so quick — pucks are flying, sticks are flying — you need to protect your eyes,” he said. “I would like everyone to wear a visor.”

Giordano was part of a group of six Flames not wearing a visor. Dennis Wideman, Brian McGrattan, Brandon Bollig and Deryk Engelland currently don’t wear one.

“It’s just personal preference. They fog up and get water on them from time to time. So that’s a bit of a bother,” Giordano said. “But I’ll try it again because it was pretty close to being a bad eye injury. And I don’t want to, obviously, put myself at risk if I don’t have to. I’ll try to get used to it over the next few weeks.”

Any rookie entering the NHL now must wear a visor part of new rules, which grandfather them in for first year players - something Giordano is in favor of.

“I think it’s a good thing,” said Giordano. “I just think certain guys — myself included — for whatever reason, it was tough to get used to it. I’m going to try it again. Hopefully, I can keep it on for good.”

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