Kris Versteeg takes most painful penalty of Game 1 (Video)

Before rejoining his team for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, Kris Versteeg of the Chicago Blackhawks flew to Toronto on Monday for the birth of Jaxson James Versteeg, the first child for Versteeg and his wife. “It was definitely a moment in time where everything stops,” he said.

We imagine he experienced a similar feeling when he flew through the air and slammed his face into the goal post next to Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop on Wednesday night.

OUCH. Another look:

That is flesh on metal, without much cushion to the blow from his glorious playoff beard.

If you’re ever at a loss to define “insult to injury,” please look no further than this play: Versteeg was actually given a minor penalty for goalie interference for flying into Bishop. The ref made the call as Versteeg picked himself off the ice. (The Blackhawks would kill it.)

Versteeg seemed OK after the play, taking regular shifts after the penalty.

And here we thought new fathers were given cigars instead of pipes…