Two days after suffering a head injury after a clean hit by a former teammate, Boston Bruins forward Marc Savard has been diagnosed with a "moderate" concussion and will be out indefinitely.
Savard was evaluated by Bruins' doctors Monday in Boston, after being sent back from the team's West Coast trip early. Bruins' general manager Peter Chiarelli released an official statement early Monday evening:
"After being examined by the Bruins medical staff today, Marc has been diagnosed with a moderate concussion. There is no timetable on his return and no further updates at this time."
The 33-year-old Savard only had the chance to play 25 games for the Bruins this season before this most recent concussion. The injury occurred when former Bruin, now Colorado Avalanche defenseman Matt Hunwick, hit Savard against the boards in a battle for the puck Saturday afternoon.
NESN points out that this concussion may not mark the end of Savard's time on the ice, for it follows the same pattern of fellow Bruin Patrice Bergeron:
"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."