Blackhawks’ Kurashev Playing Through THE Most Bizarre Injury

There have been some strange hockey injuries over the years, from dog bites to golf cart mishaps, even to bagpipe blunders, but here's one that's undoubtedly a first: Chicago Blackhawks' first-liner Philipp Kurashev suffered a jellyfish sting while the team was in South Florida this past weekend.

It didn't make it onto the Blackhawks' injury report, but Philipp Kurashev played through — of all things — a jellyfish sting in Florida this past weekend.

But if he possesses some special sea-creature powers now, he won’t complain. Story: https://t.co/FUBkvVGA6Y
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) November 14, 2023

The 24-year-old Switzerland native was swimming in the ocean in Fort Lauderdale outside the team's hotel, when he was stung on the wrist by the strange sea creature.

It didn't prevent him from playing in the Hawks game against the Florida Panthers the next day, however, and there he was, lined up again with Connor Bedard on the team's most productive line. Kurashev said he wasn't hampered by the injury, calling it “just a little burn,” per Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Kurashev has proven to be a find on the Blackhawks top line, helping Bedard do his thing, while registering six points of his own (2 goals, 4 assists) in seven games.

“We're starting to get used to each other and [know] where each other likes to be on the ice,” Kurashev said. “You can read off each other like that. It has been working, and hopefully we can keep it going.”

As for Bedard, he also sees his partnership with Kurashev going... swimmingly.

“He’s really smart,” Bedard said. “He sees the ice so well. He’s willing to go get the puck, and, out of the corner, making the quick play and just seeing where guys are. It’s really impressive to see that.

"He’s been a lot of fun to play with, and we talk on the bench about plays we think we could do. That adds on to the chemistry.”

So far, their line is providing a real sting for the Chicago attack.

Photo: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports