Matt Calvert Scores Blue Jackets' Game-Winning Goal After Receiving 30 Stitches

Columbus Blue Jackets left winger Matt Calvert further proved on Friday night why hockey players are some of the toughest athletes on the planet. 

During a game against the New York Rangers, Calvert took a Nick Holden slap shot to the face with 10 minutes, 32 seconds remaining in the second period.

It required 30 stitches and left what Adam Gretz of NBCSports.com described as "a pool of blood" on the ice.

After passing a concussion test, the 26-year-old returned to the game and scored the game-winning, short-handed goal with 8:25 left in the game to give the Blue Jackets a 4-2 victory, via the NHL:

It was a rare feat for Calvert, who had just one goal and one assist in 14 games heading into Friday night as a third-line winger.

And understandably so, he looked pretty banged up after the game, via NHL.com:

The goal lifted the Blue Jackets' record to 9-4-2 to start the season, which is their best mark through 15 games in franchise history.  

After seeing what Calvert went through to deliver that win, the two points are well-deserved, too. 

Stats courtesy of Hockey-Reference.com.