A serious eye injury hasn't dulled Steve Yzerman's desire to continue playing in the NHL. Yzerman in his first public statement since undergoing surgery on his left eye revealed that he doesn't plan on retiring from professional hockey just. "I don't know what the final point is going to be when I say that's it," Yzerman said Friday. "But I'm not there." Yzerman underwent 4 1/2 hours of surgery at a Detroit hospital on last Saturday to repair a scratched cornea and broken bone just below his left eye.

Yzerman was hurt during the Wings' Game 5 loss to the Calgary Flames in the Western Conference semifinals.

Late in the second period, Wings defenceman Mathieu Schneider fired a shot that ricocheted in front of Calgary goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff and hit Yzerman in the face as he stood to the left of the net.

Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman holds his head after being hit by the puck on Saturday. (AP/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman holds his head after being hit by the puck on Saturday. (AP/Paul Sancya)

Yzerman, who doesn't wear a face shield, dropped to the ice. After being down for a few minutes, he was helped to the dressing room with a towel held near his left eye.

Yzerman has 181 points in 192 career playoff games. He's also one of the game's most respected captains, having led the Wings to three Stanley Cups in the last six years.

Yzerman, who will turn 39 on Sunday, is also the sixth-leading scorer in NHL history. He has 1721 points in 20 seasons.

with files from Associated Press