The Calgary Flames were shorthanded for a big chunk of the second period in Friday night’s game against the Buffalo Sabres, with Erik Gudbranson absent until midway through the second period. Post-game, head coach Darryl Sutter remarked that it was because he was being stitched up, and he grumbled about how long the process took – he related that he could stitch up an animal in 10 minutes.
Well, it turns out the stitching was a bit more complex than many had thought, as Gudbranson explained to the media on Thursday afternoon: “I got high-sticked. Bit my tongue. Don’t do that. It sucks.”
"I know my role … I know what I have to do to contribute to the team."
Newly acquired Flame Ryan Carpenter on his mindset, as he and Erik Gudbranson checked in with the media following practice. pic.twitter.com/tenbqhi2cx
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) March 24, 2022
Gudbranson added that eating has been a challenge with food getting caught in his stitches. “Baby food. Soup. Been using my kid’s blender quite a bit. Watching everybody enjoy dinner time. It’s been great.”
He couldn’t recall how many stitches the wound required, but recalled that it was painful and required pulling his tongue out of his mouth for a half-hour in order to insert the stitches.
Gudbranson, his healed-up tongue, and the rest of the Flames are back in action on Friday night when they host the Arizona Coyotes.
