So much for that.
While Savard’s minutes aren’t quite back to normal yet, Savard has become an immediate presence and factor in this series against the Flyers. Between his game-winning overtime goal in Game 1 to his physical presence and his part in BiteGate in Game 2, Savard has come back in full force.
Savard's teammates don't appear surprised at all that their leading scorer of the past two seasons has jumped right back into the thick of things despite not playing since March 7 due to a Grade 2 concussion.
"I’m not surprised at all," said defenseman Mark Stuart. "He’s a competitive guy and he loves the game so much. I can tell how much he wanted in there — he was so excited and I knew he was going to contribute in some way. I didn’t expect the overtime goal in the first game, but we’ll take it.”
As for the physical presence, passion and agitating chirpiness he’s shown, that’s just Savvy being Savvy, according to resident pest Steve Begin and Julien.
“The fun part about Savvy is he gets involved,” Begin said. “He’s in there, whacking the goalies for a rebound, in the middle, playing hard, and when you play hard, that’s what happens to you.
"It’s a good sign for us, and good for him, too. He couldn’t wait to get back in the lineup, and he scored the OT goal, and then in Game 2, he’s getting involved. He’s playing his game, and we’re more than happy to see him in the lineup.”
Julien concurred and said he expected nothing less.
“That’s Savvy — he’s into it, and he was into it before he even stepped on the ice,” the coach said. “Just watching our team play, it was hard for him to watch, so that’s just the way he is and he’s into all sorts of things and he’s contributing. Usually, whether on the ice or the dressing room, we know where he is.”
Savard denied reports on Tuesday that Flyers captain Mike Richards threatened to put him “out for another six weeks” while pointing to his head when Savard was in the penalty box following his now infamous biting scrum with Daniel Carcillo. None of the Bruins seemed to be aware of this, but if there are any liberties taken on Savard, they know he will be ready and they will be right behind him.
“When we’re on the ice and we get a chance to do it, we’ll do it,” Begin said. “Like I said, Savvy is getting involved. Things can happen, of course, but he’s aware of it and he knows what he’s doing. But if something did happen to him, of course we’re there for him.”
The threat of another concussion or a cheap-shot doesn’t seem to be fazing Savard; in fact, he welcomes the physical play and trash-talking.
“They finish their hits, and everything is same-old and that’s playoff hockey, so it’s good,” Savard said. “It gets you involved more, you’re part of the game more and it’s just part of playoff hockey. You don’t want to get penalties out of it, and I know I got a penalty and they got a power play out of that last one. You want to stay out of the box, and you know, I’m not going to shy away from that stuff. That’s part of hockey.
"It’s the playoffs and it brings the best out of you, so I’m happy to be back in the middle of it all.”
