With the Tampa Bay Lightning in a “must-win” sitatuion being down 2-0 to the Columbus Blue Jackets and already without their best forward in Nikita Kucherov, the status of their top defenseman Victor Hedman is also up in the air. In fact, Tampa Bay Times reporter Bryan Burns reports that Hedman will be a game-time decision for Game 3 Sunday in Columbus, according to head coach Jon Cooper.
Hedman, who suffered an undisclosed injury at the end of the regular season and was again banged up after Game 2, did not take the ice this morning for the team’s optional skate. While he did play in the first two playoff games, Cooper said that Hedman hasn’t been able to play his usual physical style of game, which could be the reason why he’s questionable, according to The Athletic’s Joe Smith.
- The Boston Bruins won Saturday despite not having forward Marcus Johansson on hand. The trade-deadline acquisition was out with the flu. However, the team might be without him even longer as The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa reports that Johansson is still sick and will not be traveling with the team on their road trip to Toronto. That doesn’t mean he won’t eventually travel on his own and be present for Game 3 on Monday, but this illness has knocked out Johansson harder than the team initially thought.
- Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy also announced that forward Jake Debrusk and defenseman Torey Krug are both “doing better” and are day-to-day. Debrusk was cross-checked in the head by Nazem Kadri late in the game, which is being looked at by the Department of Player Safety. Krug suffered a head injury (possible concussion) in Game 2 after taking a hit on the boards from Toronto’s Jake Muzzin. Connor Clifton is also day-to-day with an upper-body injury after a hit in Game 2.
Hope Krugs doing alright. That’s a very scary play that you don’t like to see.
I agree hope he’s alright. JD if you don’t like seeing physical hits normal hits at that then go watch another none hitting sport. But then again I shouldn’t be surprised your soft just like the Sens.
He went into the boards headfirst without a helmet Marner. I’m sure it has nothing to do with hitting. If you like seeing that, you are the problem, not everybody else.
Dangerous hit, actually should of been called boarding… no where as bad as kadri’s brain fart. They called Pastrnak for charging but his feet were planted on impact. That’s literally how Ovi hits. But not surprised no call, refs lost their whistles. But marner#16, enjoy this playoffs because ur team will be in huge trouble going forward. Mitch will get 12Mil (he’s the best on ur team), u’ll lose Kap to a offer sheet and Jake is an RFA that signs elsewhere… this is your window due to poor budget management
Be fair, they’ll have another 3-4 years. Each year will be a decline because of the Tavares deal. That’s money that should have been spent to tighten up a very loose blue line
kadri shud be suspended a min 1 game
Absolutely nothing wrong with Muzzins hit. Solid hockey play.
Pastrnaks feet were still striding when he made contact with Muzzin.
Kadris hit, definitely uncalled for and deserving of a suspension.
You are correct, the refs put their whistles away early as was evident with the way the Bruins were finishing every single forecheck although the puck was long gone. DeBrusk gave Dermot a nice backhanded elbow to the face with no call, say what you want about about Kadri and DeBrusk, the knee on knee should have been a 2 minute minor (Not 5 or anything more) but thats how games get outta hand.
Absolutely nothing wrong with Muzzins hit, watched it again. Ironically enough he is none the worse for wear as he played last night. Definitely a tough hard hiy but certainly not boarding