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John Madden hits the ice after his sickening clash with Tomas Kopecky J Pat Carter/AP/Press Association Images

VIDEO: Nasty clash of heads leaves Panthers player with pulped nose

The last thing John Madden expected when he chased a loose puck was a face-full of his teammates’ helmet.

ICE HOCKEY PLAYERS are a rugged bunch and their numbers keep swelling – much like the nose of Florida Panthers’ John Madden.

The veteran skater put his head down as he chased a put on centre ice, unaware that his team-mate Tomas Kopecky was hurtling in the opposite direction.

The players clashed with a sickening thud and, as Madden squirmed, a trail of blood was left on the ice.

He required treatment on the ice as the game, against the New Jersey Devils, was held up for several minutes.

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Madden went back to the dressing room to seek attention and was patched up and cleared for a return in the next period.

He played his remaining shifts with tissue stuffed up his left nostril and his nose resembling that of a punch-drunk boxer… or former Coventry goalkeeper Steve Ogrisovic.

Madden’s steely efforts were in vain as the Panthers were eliminated from the Stanley Cup play-offs after losing 3-2 to the Devils.

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