BOSTON – The Boston Bruins lost forward Gregory Campbell for the rest of the playoffs when he broke his leg blocking a shot on a Pittsburgh Penguins power play during the second period of Game 3.
The Bruins confirmed the broken right fibula on Thursday morning, though it was clear he was in distress as he stayed in the game to help his team despite the injury.
The role player went to the ice to block Evgeni Malkin’s shot and struggled to get back to his feet after being hit in the right leg. Once he did stand and pick up his glove, he continued killing the penalty on one good leg, circling and keeping his stick in the passing lanes and standing in the shooting lanes to deny the Penguins a clean shot from the point.
He did that for 40-plus seconds until the Bruins got the puck out of the zone to remain perfect on the penalty kill for the series. He limped to the bench as fans cheered his name. He didn’t return to the game.
“He was willing to do whatever he could on that one leg,” Bruins captain Zdeno Chara said after the game. “So this (win) is surely for him.”
Bruins coach Claude Julien said Thursday that he spoke to Campbell after Game 3 and again in the morning, but he really didn’t know what to say to him.
“It’s really tough to say anything to a player who’s put so much into the game and commitment and everything else and what he means to our team,” Julien said. “And he’s certainly not going to get guys down by feeling sorry for himself.”
No one on the Bruins was surprised that Campbell stood up and continued killing the penalty.
“He’s a warrior,” said Boston defenseman Torey Krug.
Julien said he wished Campbell would have stayed down for his own sake.
“But that’s just who he is,” he said. “Stay in there and make sure he finishes his shift.”
Julien didn’t know, or wouldn’t reveal, what lineup adjustment he will make to replace Campbell on the fourth line in Friday’s game. One strong possibility is that he would add Kaspars Daugavins to the lineup.
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