TMZ Sports
1/19/2012 3:05 PM PST BY TMZ STAFF

NHL Star Taylor Hall
GNARLIEST Hockey Injury Ever
Revealed in Photo

Taylor Hall head scarNHL superstar Taylor Hall is lucky to be alive after an ice skate ripped his skull open -- and his team just tweeted the first photo of the nasty ... NASTY aftermath.

The Edmonton Oilers star forward suffered a Frankenstein-like gash Tuesday night when he fell during warmups, and collided with a teammate who couldn't avoid slamming his skate on Hall's head. He needed 30 stitches to stop the bleeding!

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Hall -- who's been out of the lineup since the injury -- was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. NHL players are required to wear helmets during games, but not warmups.

The Oilers are now advising their players to wear helmets -- while other teams are making it mandatory.

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