WILMINGTON, Mass. — Steven Kampfer didn't miss any practice time after taking a nasty tumble into the boards on Monday night, but that doesn't mean he still wasn't feeling the effects of the hit.
Kampfer was sent crashing headfirst into the end boards by Anaheim forward Teemu Selanne midway through the second period of Monday's 3-0 loss to the Ducks. Selanne was given a boarding minor on the play. Kampfer remained down on the ice for several minutes, but after being checked out by the team's medical staff, he returned later in the period and finished the game.
On Tuesday, Kampfer was back at work again when the Bruins practiced at Ristuccia Arena, but not until after getting some additional treatment from the trainers.
"I woke up really sore this morning," said Kampfer. "But coming in and getting some treatment on it definitely helped out, and it started to loosen up in practice."
Kampfer wouldn't specify exactly where he was hurting but stated that the hit actually aggravated an injury he suffered earlier this season while playing for the Bruins' AHL affiliate in Providence.
"It happened earlier this year," said Kampfer. "I'm just trying to make sure it doesn't come back."
Despite the extra time required to get loose, Kampfer doesn't expect to miss any additional time and doesn't anticipate any issues with playing in Thursday's game against Atlanta.
"I don't think so," said Kampfer. "I think every day I've just got to wake up and start moving, get my legs moving to start loosening things up."
Bruins coach Claude Julien remained cautiously optimistic about the rookie defenseman's status as well.
"He's OK, not 100 percent, but he's OK," said Julien. "He was good enough to come out and practice today."
