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Home sweet home? Giants, visitors at Oracle Park, tie franchise record in win Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic was injured in the late stages of Friday night’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers after he was struck in the face by the puck on a slap shot from defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere.

The injury happened with 29.9 seconds left in the third period as Gostisbehere’s shot caught Vlasic, who was stationed in front of the Sharks’ net, underneath his visor. Vlasic immediately fell to the ice and grabbed his face, as players from both teams motioned for the Sharks’ trainer to come onto the ice. Vlasic, who was bleeding, was then helped to the Sharks’ dressing room.

Shayne Gostisbehere's shot catches Marc-Edouard Vlasic in the face. pic.twitter.com/hBIj02YpCt — Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) December 31, 2016

Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said the initial reports he received after the game indicated that the injury was not serious, but that he doubted Vlasic would accompany the team Friday night on its flight to Los Angeles. The Sharks play the Kings at Staples Center on Saturday.

The shot from Gostisbehere appeared to have a knuckleball-type look as the Flyers defenseman did not catch the puck flush on his blade.

“A little roller and I don’t know if it hit a stick on the way through but unfortunately it catches him up in the face,” said Sharks defenseman Justin Braun, who was standing a few feet away from Vlasic when the injury happened. “Hopefully he’ll be alright.”

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Did Braun see Vlasic after the game?

“Yeah, I told him good block,” Braun said with a small smile. “He looks all right. A little swollen. It’s hard to see your teammate take one of those as bad as it looked, I think.”

Dylan DeMelo will likely come into the lineup if Vlasic is unable to play Saturday. After the Sharks play Los Angeles on Saturday, they host the Kings on Jan. 3 to start a three-game homestand.