The Boston Bruins just cannot catch a break from injuries.
In the last week, the Bruins have lost five players to different ailments. They may be getting a possible two back tomorrow in Tuukka Rask and Kevan Miller, but at least two others are out for several months.
A week ago, Rask sustained the first concussion of his career. Rask was concussed in practice after colliding with Anders Bjork, and therefore followed NHL concussion protocol as required by the league. He sat out the weekend matchup against the Sabres on Saturday, but has begun to ramp up participation and skating over the last few days. Wednesday morning Rask will look to pass his final test to play again.
NHL protocol for concussions has been revamped the last few years to take extra measures so players do not return to the game too early and cause even further damage.
For Rask, that means passing tests each day and progressively seeing more action on the ice. He was skating well in practice Tuesday, and was looking to do full contact in Wednesday’s practice.
His return to the game is close; both he and Miller have a possibility of playing in today’s spin against the San Jose Sharks. Miller will be a game-time decision; he sustained an upper-body injury two weeks ago but is expected to play, per head coach Bruce Cassidy.
Meanwhile, two more Bruins won’t be in the lineup for at least four weeks. Ryan Spooner, who had been centering the third line, tore a groin adductor in the game against Las Vegas on Oct. 15, and is expected to miss four to six weeks following surgery.
Defenseman Adam McQuaid will miss at least eight weeks following brutal shot blocks two games in a row—though the first one caused him to leave the game and miss the next practice, he returned to the ice only to break his right fibula blocking another shot the following game.
Following Miller and Rask, the next player we can look to is centerman David Krejci. It was announced yesterday that Krejci would not be in the lineup through the weekend, but that may be even longer. It was reported by the Boston Globe that Cassidy has classified Krejci as “week to week,” indicating we may not see him before the end of October. Krejci left the game against Vancouver last Thursday with an upper-body injury, and last skated Monday without the team.
