Add the name Gregory Campbell to the growing list of hockey players to have played through intense pain during the playoffs.
After blocking an Evgeni Malkin shot midway through the second period of the Boston Bruins’ Game 3 victory Wednesday, the Bruins forward sustained a broken right fibula but still managed to finish his shift (watch above).
Campbell played for about a minute on a broken leg, helping Boston kill off a penalty, then skated off on his own power. He did not return for the remainder of the contest, which the Bruins won 2-1 in double overtime.
“What he did yesterday surprised a lot of people but it didn’t surprise us because that’s just who he is, stay in there and make sure he finishes his shift,” coach Claude Julien told reporters Thursday at practice. “As a coach you probably wish he would have stayed down, but that’s not his job.
“He’s been as fierce as he could be despite what’s happened to him, and he’s one of those guys that really wants our team to do well, and he’s certainly not going to let guys down by feeling sorry for himself.”
Campbell will miss the remainder of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli announced Thursday morning.
The 29-year-old skated in all 15 playoff games this year for the Bruins’ fourth line, collecting seven points on three goals and four assists, including one game-winning goal.
Julien told reporters he’d like to continue using four lines, and the Bruins have plenty of healthy options available. Campbell’s replacement in the Boston lineup for Game 4 has yet to be named, however.
One name to consider is veteran Jay Pandolfo, 38, a left wing who won two Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils (2000, 2003).
Campbell’s perseverance through his injury has stirred a wave of admiration on Twitter:
