McQuaid still ‘a little off'

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Adam McQuaid didnt practice on Friday after getting pulled in the second period from Bostons Thursday night win over the Ottawa Senators, and he was held out of Saturdays 4-3 shootout win over Buffalo Sabres.

That was the Bs defensemans first game back into the lineup after missing three games with an eye that was swollen shut after smacking head-first into the boards, and he didnt make it more than five minutes into the second period.

Claude Julien has referenced McQuaids absence in vague terms saying the rugged defenseman just doesnt feel right or is a little off, but he also didnt seem overly concerned with his availability for the opening round of the playoffs set to begin on Thursday night. Its far different than Johnny Boychuks situation, however.

Boychuk is expected to be ready to start when the playoffs begin with his knee sprain recovery on a fairly predictable timetable. McQuaids symptoms and status sound much more mysterious when it comes to a predicted return.

It could be Thursday or it could be next week.

I think his situation -- hes got to feel good. Hes just a little off right now, and as long as hes a little off, were not moving forward with him, said Julien. So he might be okay for Thursday, which I anticipate when the playoffs aregoing to start.

But if hes not okay then weve got some other guys. I think the reason weve got that depth was for that reason. We need players to be able to step in whenever needed. So Johnny Boychuks looking good right now, and McQuaid right now is day to day. That could change from one day to the other.

That might be a tad optimistic given that all of McQuaids current difficulties seem to stem from the Jason Chimera charging hit last week, and some of those vague symptoms suffered by the Bs defenseman sound like more than an eye laceration. If McQuaid doesnt feel 100 percent when the Bs playoffs open Thursday against the Capitals then Boston can dip into the defenseman depth they created when Peter Chiarelli dealt at the deadline for Mike Mottau and Greg Zanon.

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