Two days after Marc Savard was stretchered off the ice in a 2-1 loss in Pittsburgh, many members of the Boston Bruins were still reeling from the loss of their top offensive star on Tuesday.
Coach Claude Julien provided only a brief update on Savard's condition after the pregame skate.
"The only update I've had is that today, he's definitely not feeling better," Julien said. "It's been a little hard on him. So obviously it's a pretty serious concussion."
Toronto head coach Ron Wilson, meanwhile, went on a bit of a rant when asked for his thoughts on the hit by Penguins pest Matt Cooke.
"We need to eliminate those kinds of hits," Wilson said. "Predatory, blindside, hit from behind kind of things … The game is faster, much more violent.
"I don't see many skill guys generally doling that stuff out any more. I'd like to think that we're smart enough to protect the most skilled people. That's why fans come is to see a great play."
Wilson added that he felt Cooke could have avoided hurting Savard on the play.
"Those hits don't belong in our game," Wilson said. "These hits, the Matt Cooke hit - why couldn't he hit him in the body as he's coming across, why does he hit him in the head? Because I personally think because he knew what he was doing … I know Marc Savard's only 5-foot-9 but the difference between Marc Savard and another skilled player is only three inches. So you've got 55 inches of a guy you can hit and you manage to hit the top six or seven inches? I don't think our players are that sloppy."
Even with a healthy Savard, Boston has struggled to produce goals this season, sitting dead last in the NHL in the category with 18 games left to play. The Bruins top line on Tuesday will consist of Marco Sturm, Patrice Bergeron and Mark Recchi, who have a combined 43 goals in 64 games this season.
Bruins defenceman Johnny Boychuk, who said he had talked with Savard via text message since the incident, said he was still replaying the hit in his mind.
"We're concerned about Savvy," Boychuk said. "He's a well liked guy in our room, everyone loves him. We want to make sure he's okay. It's scary seeing a guy go down like that.
"I was terrified because he's one of my friends, you know, he's a great guy."
Bergeron, who missed almost a full season two years ago after a hit from behind from Randy Jones left him with a devastating concussion, said he knew how long and difficult the road ahead for Savard could be.
"I hope he's doing better, but he needs to take the time and stay positive and be patient," Bergeron said. "That's my advice for him. I had to stay patient, and I know it's hard as an athlete to do that. I feel for him.
"It's got to stop somewhere, you know? When a guy's in a position like that, you can't hit him. I don't think there was any need for that. I know it's a fast game, I know it's a physical game as well - I'm not saying stop hitting, but just be responsible when you go for a hit."
Bergeron said he had some choice words for Cooke after the hit.
"I was just telling him it was a bad hit," Bergeron said. "I didn't need to tell him that, but I felt like he had to know. I hope seeing the replay he realizes it was a bad hit now."