The Bruins' fears have been realized, as Marc Savard has been diagnosed with another concussion.
The team confirmed the diagnosis Monday night, and the Bruins center will be out indefinitely with what has been determined to be a moderate concussion.
"After being examined by the Bruins medical staff today, Marc has been diagnosed with a moderate concussion," Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli announced in a statement. "There is no timetable on his return and no further updates at this time."
Savard, 33, was injured early in the second period of Saturday's 6-2 win in Colorado when he was hit into the boards by former Bruin Matt Hunwick. Savard's head hit the glass above boards, leaving him cut and dazed.
Savard returned to Boston Sunday to be evaluated by the Bruins' medical staff.
Savard has suffered several concussions in the past, the most serious on March 7, 2010 when hit by a blindside head shot by Pittsburgh's Matt Cooke. Savard missed the remainder of the regular season and first round of the playoffs recovering from that hit. He did return to play in the second round of the postseason against Philadelphia, but suffered a recurrence of post-concussion symptoms during the summer and missed training camp and the first 23 games of this season.
He returned again on Dec. 2, and after a slow start was starting to flash some of his playmaking skills again with assists in four of his last five games before the Colorado contest.
While another concussion is certainly bad news for Savard and the Bruins, there is still hope that he could make another successful comeback. Teammate Patrice Bergeron missed the final 72 games of the 2007-08 season after suffering a severe concussion when hit into the boards from behind by Flyers defenseman Randy Jones. Bergeron then suffered another concussion the following season in a collision with current Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg, who was then playing with Carolina.
Bergeron returned from that injury as well and last year tied for the Bruins scoring lead with 52 points and again leads the Bruins with 39 points in 48 games this season.
Only time will tell if Savard can make a similar comeback from this latest setback.
