Barron was injured in the first period during a big scramble in front of the Vegas Golden Knights’ net in Game 1 of the teams’ Western Conference first-round series, which Winnipeg won 5-1. As players collapsed around the front of the net in pursuit of a loose puck, Vegas goalie Laurent Brossoit’s skate cut Barron.

“I was trying to figure out if the puck went in because it was pretty close,” Barron said. “I saw the skate coming. It was an unlucky play. The first thought was that I could see out of the [right] eye was the main thing.”

Vegas’ Chandler Stephenson helps Winnipeg’s Morgan Barron, who cut his face on a skate during the teams’ first-round Stanley Cup playoff series Tuesday in Las Vegas.

(John Locher / Associated Press)

Barron immediately went to the Jets’ locker room, but returned in the second period wearing a full cage on his head.

“Looks like he got attacked by a shark,” center Adam Lowry said. “It’s a scary thing. We’re all so worried about the puck crossing the line, and all of the sudden we see a trail of blood all the way from the crease to the bench.”

Morgan Barron returned to the ice while wearing a bandage after receiving stitches following his injury.

(John Locher / Associated Press)

Jets coach Rick Bowness said he wasn’t surprised Barron reentered the game and marveled that he didn’t hesitate to get physical.

“We all realized how bad it was, and that gave everyone a big boost,” Bowness said.