A shot to the foot, and Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano is sidelined.

A shot to the foot, and Flames right-winger Lee Stempniak is sidelined.

A shot to the foot, and Flames centre Matt Stajan is sidelined.

Nearly.

Because the morning of the game against the Washington Capitals, Flames general manager Jay Feaster informed his players that extra foot protection would be mandatory, effective immediately, for all practices and games.

So Stajan, new pads in place, absorbed a puck — and managed to avoid injury.

“He said it would’ve broke his foot if he didn’t have the shot-blocker on,” said Shane O’Brien. “It’s a good idea and, obviously, Jay’s the boss and that’s the way the world works. It’s kind of been the way things have gone here — nobody complains, everyone does what they’re told. It’s more protection . . . and the way guys are shooting the puck nowadays, it’s probably a smart decision.”

Added Stajan: “Third period, right off the foot — a stinger through the protection. Being on the penalty kill, you try to protect yourself. Throughout the league, you see guys wearing them. And they’re all made available for us here. You see guys miss time with injuries, you think twice.”

Giordano, struck by Matt Frattin’s shot in Los Angeles, is out with a broken ankle. Beaned by Dennis Wideman’s slapper in Dallas, Stempniak’s foot is broken.

Meaning now Calgary’s players have no choice — except in the variety of protection. Most popular are clear, plastic covers for the boots. Also, there are lace-on pads that fit on top of the tongues. Or black covers, complete with fake laces, that go over the skates.

“Obviously, it’s too late, but we learn from our mistakes,” said coach Bob Hartley. “Even though they’re pros, once in a while we have to put (in) some strict policies. Right now, we’re certainly not a better team without those two guys in the lineup.”

For a team that these days prides itself on shot-blocking — No. 8 in the National Hockey League, with 190, going into Wednesday night’s action — the move makes sense.

Sven Baertschi, who has worn the foot shields on and off over the past few winters, is sold.

“Look at Gio and Stempy,” said Baertschi. “It’s just something you put on your skates — nothing special — but it helps a lot. It’s like going into your car and putting the seatbelt on — you’ve just got to grab it and click it in. That’s all you have to do. Same thing with them. Put them on your skates and that’s it. Not too much to ask for.

“It always hurts as soon as you get one off the foot. Now with these things? It’s not going to hurt anymore.”

T.J. Brodie, for one, doesn’t need to get accustomed to the extra protection. Last season during the lockout, he wore them in Abbotsford, where it had been mandatory.

“I’ve got a head start on everyone,” said the defenceman. “Now you don’t even notice it. And once I got used to them, I didn’t want to take them off because I didn’t want to have to go through that (adjustment) process again. (Wearing the extra protection) definitely reduces the amount of pain and the swelling. Even getting stepped on, they cover the top of the skate, too. It’s a smart idea.”