The Boston Bruins have had a lengthy lay-off since clinching the Eastern Conference final series with a sweep of the Carolina Hurricanes. Not only that, they’ve missed key players all year and during this post-season.
The most recent of these concerns for the Boston Bruins was Brad Marchand, who left the ice during the recent intrasquad scrimmage clutching at his hand and wrist. Whilst this was downplayed and Marchand indeed got back out onto the ice, you do have to wonder a little. Will the St. Louis Blues target that wrist with a few extra slashes?
We saw Zdeno Chara sit out Game 4 of that Eastern Conference final series, which in actuality was likely nothing more than resting a very weary veteran. The Boston Bruins had such an advantage in that series at that point, it made perfect sense to give him a game off.
The likes of Chris Wagner and Kevan Miller, we’ve touched upon before. Wagner though to his credit, and despite appearing at the pre-Stanley Cup Final media day with a blatant splint on his wrist, has vowed to hopefully see the ice once more this post-season. Miller on the other hand, we’ve highly unlikely seeing again this season.
Now, we have seen maintenance days handed out, we’ve seen players miss practices too and nothing much became of it. However, given that this is a Boston Bruins team that is coming off the back of ten days off, to have a player missing practices before Game 1 seems a little concerning.
That was exactly the case for David Krejci, who has now shaken off whatever illness was ailing him. Obviously, there is still a slight concern as any illness that affects his ability to practice will surely have some sort of lingering effect come game time. Even if that lingering effect is as simple as lacking that extra step.
Brad Marchand missed the practice on the day before Game 1 and whilst it’s been written off by Boston Bruins head coach, Bruce Cassidy as merely a maintenance day for him, we do have our doubts and concerns.
This Boston Bruins team spent much of the regular season with players banged up and managed just fine. They just need to survive up to seven more games and then they all can have a well-deserved break.
Should all go well, that break will involve countless photos with a certain Stanley Cup, parties, family days and if they want to emulate a certain Alex Ovechkin, swimming in fountains.
We are concerned as to whether everyone is 100% but we have to believe what we’re told and rely on the adrenaline of the Stanley Cup Finals to drag anyone that isn’t quite there through.