PHILADELPHIA — Bruins head coach Claude Julien told the media Thursday that defenseman Adam McQuaid suffered a lower-body injury and is "very doubtful" for Game 4 at Philadelphia on Friday night.
McQuaid took a hard hit behind the Bruins' net in the first period of the team's 4-1 win in Game 4 Wednesday night. He did not return. Julien did not commit to who would replace McQuaid for Game 4, but he said that if Mark Stuart — out since April 1 with cellulitis on his left pinky finger — gets medical clearance, it will be a coach's decision if he will return Friday.
"If Stuart plays, it's because he's ready," Julien said, stressing McQuaid's injury won't rush Stuart's return. "We haven't gotten the clearance from the medical staff yet. He's obviously been cleared for full practice and everything else, and if we do get [the medical clearance], whether it's today or tomorrow, then it will be our decision."
If Stuart gets the green light, he will be ready to go.
"It's been over a month now and I am just really excited if I can play," Stuart said. "I feel good and obviously I won't know if I am truly ready until I get out there, but I'll look to get out there and take a few hits and give a few hits, then I'll be in the game."
Stuart had originally though that he was ready earlier in the week when his medications were switched up. But now with the antibiotic portal off his forearm, he is ready.
"I've got that off now and I just need the clearance," he said.
Also, in other Bruins blue line news, defenseman Dennis Seidenberg who had surgery for a lacerated flexor carpi radialis tendon in his left forearm in early April, had his cast removed and said that the doctors told him he could be ready in three weeks but that it was looking "more like four".
