Bruins’ Boychuk: ‘I feel good’
Boychuk/By S. Bradley
BOSTON — You knew it was only a matter of time before Tampa Bay forward Steve Downie would be involved in an controversial play.
You just might’ve been surprised it took until Game 5 for him to cause a stir.
“That guy’s not passing any of those up,” said one Bruins player, who knows Downie’s reputation for crossing the line, about his hit on Johnny Boychuk.
The veteran winger, who was already suspended once this playoffs for leaving his feet on a hit on Pittsburgh’s Ben Lovejoy, nailed Boychuk with the Bruins defenseman mostly turned the other way with 9:06 remaining in the Bruins’ 3-1 win tonight.
Boychuk was behind his own net and had just made a pass to his D partner Andrew Ference.
Downie received a boarding major but Boychuk, who hit his head on the glass, staggered to the bench and then the dressing room. With about two minutes left to play, Boychuk made his way out to the bench to watch the Bruins put the finishing touches on Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final and move within one win of the Stanley Cup Final.
While he looked to have a fresh bruise on the side of his head, Boychuk was walking around the Bruins’ dressing room after the game — which is always a positive sign, because seriously injured players are usually hidden away after games in the regular season or playoffs.
“I feel good,” Boychuk told TheBruinsBlog.net when asked in passing.
Bruins head coach Claude Julien hadn’t watched replays of the hit before he met with the media. But he still had this to say:
“Johnny’s fine. Haven’t had an opportunity to look at it. I haven’t watched the video yet. I know some people have. And from what I hear, it’s not a great hit.
“But I’ll maybe reserve my comments a bit more for after I see it.”
Downie was actually on the receiving end of a hit from Nathan Horton in the second period of Saturday’s Game 4. Horton hit Downie into the glass and the Tampa Bay forward didn’t return to the game. He hadn’t been on the ice since then until tonight’s pregame warm-up.
The league could review the hit between now and Wednesday’s Game 6.
Not exactly a ‘hit to the head’, or even one that was a true blindside shot, but nonetheless it was late and he came up high on purpose. That’s what Downie does. Glad to see Boychuk is OK, hope to see Downie get his for the bad hit(s) and that dive in Game 4.
It was really a cheap shot. The puck was almost in the corner. I thought there was intent to injure. There is no other reason to hit someone that late.
There is no way Thornton will play given how well Paille is paying on PK, but he is awful in every other situation.
you know a bruin would have received at least a major for that hit.
i’d play thornton in game 6 just to pop downie whether he wants to go or not.
Thanks for the clarification Ww and Bru.
Forgot to mention earlier how happy I am to hear that Boychuk is alright. I was really dreading the viable replacement options. Kampfer is not ready and Silent H is too slow, IMO.
it was two minutes. i was livid. such a sucker hit. theres a lot to admire about TB, but that guy is a crap pile. he sat on the bench after the game was over and the bruins had left for the showers-calming himself down, the announcer said. immature is what i say.
@PCL – you’re right. It was only two minutes, I thought I was watching something else… Unless majors have been cut down to 2 minutes… Downie’s a #majordouche
I thought it was a late hit. I’m sure the B’s have been told to be aware of the guy. He would have no problem ending someones season or career. Speaking of fighting teammates. He also had an epic bout with teammate Akim Alieu in Windsor. The guy is an idiot.
Verses didn’t really show it much and I haven’t seen too many replays.
the hit wasn’t to the head, but it was from behind and it did throw Boychuk’s head into the boards. Kind of comparable to Lucic’s boarding hit where he got the major and a game-so I doubt there is going to be a suspension, but who knows the league is anything but consistent.
He didn’t get a major did he? I thought it was only 2 minutes…
Downie’s number has been taken and a face full of lumber is coming right up…
Downie is such a turd… fought a teammate during an AHL practice because they were having words. He’s a dirty player, and he basks in that status. You can tell. I hope Boychuck finds his marbles, and plants Downie on Wednesday with one of his Matt Stajan/Matt Ellis signature hits.