The Red Wings ' Drew Miller says he 's eager to hit the ice again just a day after receiving a cut that could have cost him his eyesight . ' I feel very blessed the skate did n't hit my eye , ' Miller said at practice on Wednesday . 'Very lucky ' Skating with a full face mask during practice , the Detroit forward openly bore a gruesome red wound that required 50 to 60 stitches to close along multiple layers of skin , the Detroit Free Press reports . Gruesome : Miller was left with a scar across his eye , but reportedly did n't suffer any damage to his eyesight after another player cut him across his face . The incident occurred shortly after a faceoff during the first period of Tuesday 's game between the Red Wings and the Senators . While battling for the puck , Ottawa 's Mark Stone lost his balance and lifted his right skate backwards in an arc , catching Miller just under his visor . Stone 's skate cut Miller along his right cheek and again just below his eyebrow . Miller exited the ice under his own power before medical staff rushed him to receive treatment , including stitches . Though he has a gash that runs across both sides of his eyelid and bruising below his right eye , Miller said his vision was largely unaffected . 'Right now , it 's just dealing with the cut and the stitches and the soreness , ' Miller explained . 'Other than that , my eye is good , and when I got on the ice today , I felt pretty good . ' Freak accident : While falling to the ice , Ottawa 's Mark Stone lifted his skate and struck Miller under the visor with the blade . Stitched up : Twitter user Red Wing Memes published a photo of the Red Wings forward with the freshly stitched wound . Second opinion : A second angle showed Stone losing his balance while fighting for the puck with the Red Wings ' Luke Glendening . Bruiser : Miller said he wanted to come back for the third period after being stitched up , though the team said he will likely return Thursday against Boston . My Fox Detroit reports Miller had wanted to return during the third period of the game , which Detroit lost 2-1 . Red Wings Coach Mike Babcock said Miller will likely have a 'big-time scar ' but to expect the winger to be on the ice Thursday . The team will need Miller , who has played in 159 straight games , as it tries to secure the final guaranteed playoff spot in the Atlantic division .
Detroit Red Wings ' Drew Miller was caught by a skate in the first period against the Ottawa Senators . The massive cut required 2 stitches to close , but did not damage Miller 's eye . The Red Wings lost 50 to 60-1 but remained in third place in the Atlantic division .