Missing five of their original twenty roster players, the Boston Bruins will be without an entire quarter of their regulars when they limp in Madison Square Garden on Sunday afternoon for a crucial matinee tilt with the Eastern Conference-leading Rangers. Here’s a brief rundown of Boston’s seemingly ever-growing injury report.
Nathan Horton – The Bruins’ top line right winger has now missed a month and a half of action after suffering his second concussion in seven months back in mid-January. There isn’t any timetable for number eighteen’s return as speculation has run rampant through the Hub that last year’s Game 7 hero may indeed be done for the season.
Rich Peverley – Peter Chiarelli’s prize acquisition from the 2011 trade deadline has been sidelined since last month with an injury to the MCL in his right knee. The versatile forward is expected to return to the B’s lineup towards the end of March or early April.
Andrew Ference – The 5’11" blueliner is expected to miss his second consecutive game on Sunday as he sits out with what’s only being described as a "lower body injury".
Daniel Paille – Boston’s gritty fourth line stalwart left Saturday’s loss to the Islanders midway through the third period and appeared to be favoring his left arm. The team hasn’t given any formal update on Paille, but he will not be making the trip to New York with the team on Sunday.
Tuukka Rask – Leaving Saturday’s contest during the second period, Rask was reportedly seen leaving the TD Garden on crutches after the loss to New York. While the severity of Rask’s left knee injury is still unknown, the video evidence simply did not look pretty. Rask will not make the trip to Manhattan or Toronto, per head coach Claude Julien.