‘Ah f–k!’: Sabres’ rinkside announcer Rob Ray gets hit by puck

It’s been more than 20 years since Rob Ray laced up his skates, but even at the age of 56, he’s still taking shots.

Ray, now a rinkside announcer for the Buffalo Sabres, the team he spent 14 seasons playing for, was working Saturday’s game against the New York Rangers when with two minutes to go in the first period, Rangers’ defenseman Will Borgen shot a clearing attempt over the boards, hitting Ray in the face.

“Ah f–k,” Ray said after being hit with the puck, with the on-air broadcast catching the hot mic moment. After play was blown dead, Sabres’ forward Beck Malenstyn and the Buffalo training staff checked in on the former NHL tough guy.

Ray finished the period and wound up with a cut above his left eye.

Ray had a 15-year NHL career, scoring 41 goals and 50 assists for 91 points. Considered one of the toughest players in NHL history, Ray finished with 3,207 penalty minutes, sixth on the all-time list. Ray finished with at least 350 penalty minutes in a single season twice, and at least 200 penalty minutes 10 times.

Going into Saturday’s game, the Sabres are 22-27-5 with 49 points, last in both the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference, holding on to the fourth-worst record in the league.

Forward Tage Thompson leads the team in both goals and points with 26 and 48, while captain Rasmus Dahlin, who played with his native Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off, leads with 35 assists.