Citing anticipation of Johnny Boychuk returning to the Boston Bruins' lineup on Tuesday night, coach Claude Julien has resisted the temptation to make a call to his Providence, Rhode Island affiliate to a stand-in.
What he really needs for his team instead is a gallon of Theraflu and a gross of tissues.
The flu bug is making it's way through the roster, perhaps making the need for Boychuk a bit more urgent. Blue liners Zdeno Chara and Kevan Miller did not skate on Tuesday nor did Merlot line center Gregory Campbell or backup goalie Chad Johnson, all victims of the annual visit from the flu bug.
Defensemen Adam McQuaid is with the team but not ready to go as yet, so perhaps Julien has undertaken a bit of wishful thinking. As for Boychuk, who was taken off the ice in Montreal on a stretcher last week after being boarded by Canadiens' Max Pacioretty, he's feeling a bit of trepidation after the worst scare of his career.
It could have been a lot worse. You go down and you think the worst when you’re down on the ice. For it to be maybe seven days is really good. It could have been a couple of months. Just to be back on the ice was great. - Johnny Boychuk
So far as how he's feeling physically and, perhaps more importantly, psychologically, he sounded cautious:
It was all right; it didn’t feel awesome. I haven’t skated in five days or so, but at least I got back on the ice and moved around a little. It’s still pretty stiff. It’s been loosening up every day. We’ll see how it feels. It’s getting better every day, and that’s all I can ask for.
Update: Boychuk is on the ice tonight for the Bruins.
http://www.sportsinjuryalert.com/2013/12/bruins-boychuk-in-lineup-against-flames.html
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