BOSTON — Nikita Zadorov needed help leaving the ice late in the second period, but the Bruins caught a huge break as he returned to the ice for the third period.
Zadorov, the Bruins’ only defenseman to play all 51 games this season, landed awkwardly after being hit by Zachary Bolduc. The 6-foot-7, 255-pound blue-liner stayed on the ice, unable to get up as play continued.
Boston’s training staff hustled to the ice to attend to him and help him off the ice. He immediately went to the dressing room and did not return in the second period, leaving the Bruins short a defenseman.
But the injury looked worse than it turned out to be. Zadorov was back out on the ice to start the third period, giving Boston a huge lift.
Zadorov averaged 21:49 of ice time per game and is a key penalty killer.
