Stuart out 2 weeks

[blackngold]

Turns out the cellulised hand is worse than originally perceived. He needed surgery on it.

Bruins defenseman Mark Stuart, who required an emergency room visit to a Toronto Hospital late Friday night, today underwent surgery on am infected finger and will miss at least two weeks, according to a statement released Sunday afternoon by the Bruins.

Stuart returned home to Boston Saturday to be treated for a sudden flareup of cellulitis, an infection of the skin, on one of his hands. Bruins coach Claude Julien maintained Saturday morning that the club hoped Stewart would be available for Monday night's game against the Caps in Washington, DC.

The statement released this afternoon by the Bruins provided no detail about the specific nature of why Stuart required surgery on a finger. It's possible that the cellulitis infection was advanced and doctors felt that surgery, rather than treatment by oral or intravenous antibiotics, was the most prudent course of action.

[bigjohnson]

Weird

[Sugden Flu]

Seidenberg could be a no-go tonight, with the wrist laceration, as well. When it rains it pours. I wonder what kind of year the B's could've had if they had stayed relatively injury free? It seems like they've had more than their fair share of injuries. Maybe nextyear they'll stay healthier?

[blackngold]

McQuaid was called up this morning just in case Seidenberg doesn't suit up. Weird, since McQuaid hasn't played since he got injured while beating up Oreskovich in that fight a while back, but I'll take it.

Word is he may also replace Bodnarchuk if Seidenberg does play.

[bigjohnson]

I thought Bondnarchuk did fine the other. Of course they eased him into it, but I didn't see him play bad at all, especially since it was his first ever game and in the hockey Mecca.

[blackngold]

Originally Posted by bigjohnson

I thought Bondnarchuk did fine the other. Of course they eased him into it, but I didn't see him play bad at all, especially since it was his first ever game and in the hockey Mecca.

I didn't catch the game except for OT, but I'm glad Bodnarchuk played well. He's a good, steady dman.

He's of a different mold than McQuaid though, and maybe they want to replace Stuart with a similar physical blueliner? Interesting to see who they go with tonight. Once again I won't be able to catch the game.

[bigjohnson]

I would think Bodnarchuk is more in the Hunwick mold more than Stuart's.


These injuries are just getting strange.

[blackngold]

Originally Posted by bigjohnson

I would think Bodnarchuk is more in the Hunwick mold more than Stuart's.

Agree. I think that Bodnarchuk is all-around more steady though while Hunwick's game goes south every now and then.
Of course, I'm comparing one's AHL career to the other's NHL career.

[blackngold]

Mark Stuart, held out the entire first round because of an infection in his left hand, has been cleared to start skating on his own. Stuart is going through his first solo skate today under the watch of strength and conditioning coach John Whitesides.

Stuart is still on antibiotics. But if he progresses over the next few days, Claude Julien said there's a good chance Stuart could rejoin the team for practice. If that schedule holds firm, Stuart could be available later in the round.

Ballin!!!

On a different note, because of NBC and VS' gay asses, NESN won't be able to broadcast until Game 5. What a bunch of baloney!!

[Orr4]

Great to hear he's back skating. (A friend of mine had this but not as bad. He got it on the back of his hand and it ran up his arm in about 6 hours. He recovered in about a week.)

[blackngold]

Update:

Mark Stuart, who participated in his first morning skate today, stayed on the ice for extra conditioning work as he tries to get back into game shape.

"I'm feeling good," Stuart said. "Just trying to get my lungs and my legs back. You've got to be careful. Obviously you want to get in as soon as possible. But in order to be effective, I need to play a high-energy game and a physical game. I'm going to need my legs and my lungs to do that. You have to wait until you're ready enough to help the team. You go on too soon, you might be hurting the team. Just a matter of getting my legs."

Stuart, ordered not to even break a sweat for three weeks because of the fear of infection, will not play tonight. However, Stuart could be available later in the series if the current method of treatment holds up.

"I'm definitely hopeful," Stuart said of playing in this round. "I'm always hopeful that I'm going to get back in there. It's my job to get in shape. The coaches are helping me out with that. Then it's up to the coaches to make the decision whether to put me in the lineup. I realize with where I'm at now that it doesn't matter that I was playing this season. It's the playoffs. Guys are playing well. You've got to earn your spot. You've got to earn your minutes. The only thing I can do is show them I'm in shape and I'm working hard in practice."

Originally, Stuart was told that he would have to wear a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) line for six weeks to receive antibiotics. Now, Stuart is wearing a device on his left arm -- for today's skate, he covered it with a pad and wrapped it -- that delivers antibiotics. If Stuart were to play, he would remove the device and replace it with a fresh one after the game. Stuart's treatments will conclude on May 25.

[blackngold]

Stuart back in tonight.

While Mark Stuart has yet to be cleared medically, it is likely that he will receive the green light to play tonight, according to GM Peter Chiarelli. Stuart will probably skate on the third pairing.

[bigjohnson]

Just to add onto BnG's last post:

Stuart will remove the IV port from his left arm tonight during the game. Stuart will put it back in after the game. Stuart must remain on the medication until May 25. Stuart said the medication is so potent that he has to insert the IV port into different veins.

"The medication is pretty toxic stuff," Stuart said. "So you've got to keep switching veins."

Disgusting