Bruins' McQuaid 'Wasn't Feeling Quite Right' After Hit From Behind
BOSTON (CBS) – Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid had to leave Boston's 3-2 shootout loss to the Capitals Thursday night after going face-first into the end boards.
McQuaid was hurt after a hit from Washington forward Jason Chimera sent him into the boards behind Boston's net just 14 minutes into the game. The B's defenseman remained on the ice for several minutes after suffering a cut above his left eye, and needed assistance as he skated off. Head coach Claude Julien said McQuaid wasn't feeling after the hit, which is why he was held out of the rest of the game.
"He suffered a cut over the eyebrow, and he wasn't feeling quite right so the doctors didn't want to take a chance of sending him back," said Julien. "So we'll probably learn more [tomorrow] and find out a little more about it. But for the obvious reasons the minute you don't feel right, they pull you out, so hopefully we'll get good news tomorrow, but we'll find out later."
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Julien did not think Chimera had intent to injure when he followed through with the hit.
"When it happens to you, you also have to be honest about it and I think [Chimera] came off the bench and he was going hard, and maybe it was a little bit reckless, but there's no doubt in my mind that it wasn't intentional," Julien said. "You know, McQuaid just turned at the last second and put himself in a bit of vulnerable position. But still I agree with the referee's call. It was a bit of a reckless hit, and it deserved probably a five-minute penalty when you look back at the replay, and they had to make that decision. It was a tough one, but certainly wasn't intent to injure by the player, in my mind."
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The Bruins defense was already shorthanded with Dennis Seidenberg sidelined after a cut he suffered on Saturday became infected. Joe Corvo played in Seidenberg's spot Thursday night, with 20 minutes of ice time.
"We've been in situations like that before, where a guy gets hurt early in a game and the other guys got to step up," Corvo said after the game. "In practice, I think there's so many rotations that you practice with everybody so at this point you should be comfortable with anybody you have to play with."
Chimera was given a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct for the hit.
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