Updated:
Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney announced today that forward David Backes has been diagnosed with a concussion and will be sidelined indefinitely as the team follows the NHL's concussion protocols.
The injury occurred in the first period of the team's 4-2 win at Buffalo on Thursday, December 29.
Backes, 32, has skated in 33 games with the Bruins in 2016-17, recording nine goals and 10 assists for 19 points with 31 penalty minutes. The 6'3", 220 lb. forward also leads the team with 98 hits. In his 11-year NHL career, Backes has played in 760 games, compiling 215 goals and 264 assists for 479 points with 1,000 penalty minutes
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thought this day would never get here.
I've had December 31, 2016 circled on my calendar for months.
Today is a hockey lover's dream come true!
My day will be spent with my family devouring a three course meal of deliciously prepared puck.
At 1:00pm EDT, the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins will renew their hatred vows in a a matinee at The Garden. Buffalo must play a 60-minute game or else they will lose the same way they did on Thursday night in Buffalo. I think Jack Eichel will play an inspired game in his return to his hometown. You'll recall that on December 27, 2015 Eichel torched the Bruins for four points in the Buffalo win. I feel a similar result coming today.
Buckle your chinstraps because this matinee is going to be fast and physical. I expect some carry over emotions to inspire the Sabres and the Bruins. On Thursday night, hen Buffalo forward Will Carrier leveled Bruins forward David Backes it really energized the Bruins. Backes would go immediately to the quiet room and not return to the game. Backes will not play today, nor will Carrier who was jumped by Bruins D Adam McQuaid. Carrier bloodied McQuaid's face in a spirited tilt and suffered a hand injury in the process. Taking Carrier's place in the lineup will be Buffalo born power forward Justin Bailey, who has 13 goals for the Rochester Americans this season. Bailey loves to push the pace with his speed and he has the size (6'3" 215 lbs.) and the determination to bust to the blue ice.
Rasmus Ristolainen has 15 points (3G, 12A) his last 13 games.
Sam Reinhart enters today's game on a career-best five-game point streak (2G, 4A). Evander Kane has four goals in his last four road games.
Robin Lehner has posted a .930 save percentage in his last five games, including a .919 mark or better in each game. He logged a season high with 40 saves on Tuesday at Detroit.
Also at 1pm today running concurrently with Sabres-Bruins game will be Team Sweden vs. Team Czech Republic in IIHF preliminary round action from Montreal.
Sweden is led by Buffalo Sabres 2016 first round draft choice Alex Nylander who already has accumulated 4 goals and 3 assists in his team's first tree games of the WJCs. Minnesota Wild draft choice Joel Eriksson Ek has five points for Sweden. Sweden leads Group A with a 3-0 record and 9 points while the Czechs are 1-0-2 (5 points) in the prelims. On Thursday, Sweden defeated arch rivals Finland while the Czech lost 3-2 to Denmark.
The Swedes are back stopped by goalie Felix Sandstrom who has been been excellent in his first three games posting a .939 SV% and 1.33 GAA.
At 3:30pm, Team Canada will host Team USA in Toronto. Both teams are 3-0 at the WJCs and each have nine points in the Group B standings. Both teams won on Thursday.
Canada slapped Latvia 10-2 while USA held on for a 3-2 win over Russia.
Canada will be led by Dylan Strome (7points), Taylor Raddysh (6 points) and Matt Barzal (6 points).
Clayton Keller has five points for Team USA while Colin White has four points in three games played.
Team USA's unsung hero through three games has been their goalie Tyler Parsons (London Knights) who boasts a .923 SV% and 1.50 GAA.
Oh, by the way. Happy New Year's Eve.
Do not get behind the wheel of your car after you have been drinking beers and shots.
Call a cab. Use Uber. Walk. Hitch hike. Mooch a ride from a friend who is sober.
DO NOT drink and drive tonight.
You don't have an extra $10K to $12K in your bank account to pay for legal and court fees associated with a driving while intoxicated conviction.