Bruins' Johnny Boychuck cleared to fly home, to be evaluated on Monday

Boston Bruins' coach Claude Julien confirmed multiple reports that defenseman Johnny Boychuk was cleared by Montreal doctors to accompany the team on their flight back to Boston on Thursday night after suffering what is believed to be a back injury.

He was cleared to fly back with us, he’s still obviously injured. We don’t know the severity of it and I don’t know all the details, but it was an injury serious enough to bring him to the hospital. - Boston coach Claude Julien

Boychuk was slammed into the dashers by Montreal forward Max Pacioretty to the left of the Montreal goal just wide of the trapezoid and stayed on ice for several minutes before being strapped to a backboard by emergency personnel and transported to a Montreal hospital.

WEEI.com reports that Pacioretty felt terrible after the hit, and that they Bruins didn't feel that there was malicious intent with the hit.

I don’t think there was any intent. I’m almost positive. He’s a clean player, and it’s unfortunate things happen, and things happen quickly so sometimes you put yourself in those positions. It’s hard to stop yourself from the momentum you have going into the play there. - Bruins' center Gregory Campbell

Julien didn't care to divulge what the initial diagnosis was from the doctors, but told reporters that Boychuk will be evaluated by Bruins' doctors and a decision on his availability will be made then, though he mentioned that he pretty sure that his veteran blue liner will be "out for a while".

http://www.sportsinjuryalert.com/2013/12/bruins-johnny-boychuck-cleared-to-fly.html