Boston Bruins defenceman Adam McQuaid narrowly escaped a serious injury after being cut by a skate during Saturday night’s game against the New Jersey Devils.
You got to feel for Adam McQuaid. The guy goes out every night and tries his best to help the Boston Bruins get wins. Throughout that career, that effort has led to a string of injuries that have reduced his playing time. Concussions, broken bones, and even a life threatening blood clot have not reduced his love of the game or his desire to win.
Saturday night could have very easily been the end of his career.
McQuaid ended up taking David Backes‘ skate blade to the neck. After checking himself to see if he was bleeding, the 30-year old blueliner returned to the play. He didn’t realize how serious the cut was until he got off the ice. It took a couple of dozen stitches to close the gaping wound.
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After Sunday’s practice, the veteran defenceman seemed pretty nonchalant about coming millimeters away from actually dying on the ice.
“Initially I didn’t see a ton of blood or anything, figured I was OK,” said McQuaid about the cut (courtesy of the Boston Bruins website). “And they didn’t blow the whistle. The game was still going on and obviously an important part of the game. I was pretty helpless without my stick and stuff. But just kind of tried to be an extra body in the way.
“But definitely a really close call. Couldn’t help but thank God that it wasn’t a scarier situation.”
Seriously, he looks like one of those poor co-eds that decide to spend the week at camp Crystal Lake.
Interim Head Coach Bruce Cassidy expects McQuaid to play in Monday’s game against the Ottawa Senators. A Bruins win would put them back into a tie for second place in the Atlantic Division.
“He’s cleared. So assuming there’s no adverse effects from his injury then he’ll go back in, for sure,” said Cassidy in the video. “He’s a tough customer. I’m not telling you something that you don’t already know. It’s a scary injury…he even stayed on the ice.
“I’m not even sure he knew what was going on. It was scary, but he got lucky. In an unlucky situation, he got lucky in the big picture. Hopefully it doesn’t affect him.”
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McQuaid has eight points (two goals) in 60 games this season. He currently leads the team in penalty minutes with 62.