Photo Credit: Brian Babineau/Getty Images
Out indefinitely with what appears to be an upper-body injury, Boston Bruins defenseman Dougie Hamilton’s issue could not have come at a worse time than this.
During the second period of Saturday’s game against the Florida Panthers, Hamilton was hurt. Even though he attempted to make a return, he played one brief shift before calling it a night for the rest of the game. According to Bruins coach Claude Julien, Hamilton will be evaluated and looked over for the next few days.
Until he became injured, Hamilton had played in every game this season, recording 10 goals and 32 assists for 42 points. His injury causes a loss for the entire team who are currently in the middle of a five-game losing streak, while still fighting for a playoff spot. After Hamilton sat out for the remainder of Saturday’s game, the team went on to lose in a 2-1 shootout against Florida.
In the midst of this all, there was a sense of hope that forward David Krejci, who has been recovering from a torn MCL in his left knee, would be able to return during the weekend games, but he missed both, including a game on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Though it was possible that he could have played, unfortunately he wasn’t cleared. He’s hoping he will get to make his return when the Bruins host the Anaheim Ducks this coming Thursday.
With nine games remaining in the regular season for the Bruins, they only have so much time to push their way past the Ottawa Senators, who have seemed to take over the Bruins eight seed spot in the playoff race. For the Bruins who have made it to the playoffs every season since the 2007-08 season, not making it this year is not an option. They last won a Stanley Cup in the 2010-11 season, and were up for it again in the 2012-13 season, where they fell to the Chicago Blackhawks. This season, the Bruins have big hopes to bring it back to the east.
