Jun 12, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) makes a save as left wing Brandon Saad (20) and Boston Bruins right wing Nathan Horton (18) look for the rebound during the third period in game one of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
He’s one of the Bruins best players in a clutch situation. He pulled off two seperate game seven miracles for us during the 2011 Stanley Cup run. Now, after a rough collision during the first overtime Bruins power play, Boston forward Nathan Horton is listed day to day and may not be able to play in game two tomorrow night. As of this afternoon, Coach Claude Julien has him as a ‘maybe’. If Horton feels good, then it is likely that he’ll take his place on the Bruins premier scoring line.
Horton has been amazing for the Bruins so far in the post season. At present, he has seven goals and eleven assists. We were all worried about Horton’s health at the beginning of the season, since we lost Horton to post-concussion syndrome at the beginning of last year’s playoff run. The Bruins got taken out in seven games by the Washington Capitals.
This information comes from WEEI.com. They report that Horton has been dealing with ‘chronic left shoulder subluxation’. In other words, his shoulder is partially dislocated. Speaking from the viewpoint of a man with a partially artificial left knee, I know what sort of pain a sudden aggravation of the old injury can bring. That collision in the first overtime period probably tweaked the shoulder again. Claude Julien was absolutely right to pull Horton off the ice.
If Horton is out for game two, then we’re going to see a few changes again in the Bruins lines. During the second and third overtime periods, we saw Tyler Seguin bumped up to the first line with Milan Lucic and David Krejci. The Bruins will probably keep that line that way, and likely bring up Jay Pandolfo to reinforce the often depleted third line. (Chris Kelly was pulled from the third line to center the Merlot Men, and Kaspers Daugavins was brought in. This leaves Rich Peverley as the only original third line player left.)
The Bruins have always had four deep lines and they can count on any player on any line to score. It’s part of the Bruins strength, and we know the Bruins will give the Blackhawks the same intense fight they gave on Wednesday.