Bruins' McQuaid Out For Game 1, Boychuk Game-Time Decision
BOSTON (CBS) – After missing his third straight day of practice, Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid has been ruled out for Thursday's Game 1 against the Washington Capitals.
"He didn't skate again today so he's certainly not going to be part of our lineup tomorrow," head coach Claude Julien said of McQuaid Wednesday afternoon.
Read: Bruins-Capitals Schedule
McQuaid is dealing with what the team is terming an "upper body injury" suffered March 29 against Washington. McQuaid was hit from behind by Capitals forward Jason Chimera and went face first into the boards. He missed three games after his eye was swollen shut, but returned to face the Senators in Boston's second-to-last game of the regular season.
McQuaid only played seven minutes of that game though, and Julien said the defenseman has felt "a little off" earlier this week.
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There was some good news for the Boston blue line, as fellow defenseman Johnny Boychuk will be a game-time decision for Boston on Thursday.
"He's feeling fairly good, so we want to remain optimistic with him," Julien said of Boychuk, who suffered a mild knee sprain last week.
With McQuaid out, the Bruins will likely go with Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg as their top defensive pairing, followed by Boychuk and Andrew Ference, and Joe Corvo with Greg Zanon.
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