Injured Chris Kelly Ruled Out for End of Regular Season
By Duncan Day
Apr 2, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Boston Bruins center Chris Kelly (23) skates with the puck in the third period against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. Detroit won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Injury Update
A report from DJ Bean of WEEI.com has detailed that Boston Bruins‘ forward Chris Kelly will not play in the final two games of the NHL regular season.
Kelly hasn’t been on the ice for Boston since the Minnesota Wild game last week, where he sat out the majority of the third period and overtime due to back spasms. He also didn’t make an appearance against the Jets two days ago.
For those of you who are concerned that Kelly won’t be ready for the playoffs, coach Claude Julien believes that he should be available when the time comes.
Player absences have surely contributed to the Bruins’ recent losses. So, examining how the Bruins will perform in the postseason, weak line depth in the face of injuries could dictate their fate.
“That will be a concern if it ever does come to it,” Bruins’ play-by-play announcer David Boucher said. “No question about it. If they lose somebody up front, and I’m not even talking about somebody on their top six forwards, but even if somebody like Chris Kelly who’s in their top nine goes out, that will be problematic for them.”
The Bruins have lost four of their last five games but clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a Apr. 5 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.