Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid was cleared and back in the lineup Monday night against Ottawa, despite receiving nearly 25 stitches to close a wound in his neck in a game against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night.
McQuaid played over 17 minutes in his return as the Senators defeated the Bruins, 4-2.
McQuaid's neck was injured when the skate of teammate David Backes sliced his neck open.
"Initially, when I didn't see any blood, I figured that I was OK," McQuaid said. "They didn't blow the whistle, and [play] was still going on in an obviously important part of the game. I was pretty helpless without my stick, but I was just trying to be a body getting in the way."
"I don't think many guys saw it on the ice," added McQuaid, whose stitches resemble a zipper running halfway across the right side of his neck. "Once I got to the bench, Colin Miller at first was like, 'Oh, you're OK.' Then, 'No, actually, you're cut. You might want to have it looked at.' "
McQuaid was taken to the Bruins dressing room, where the wound was stitched. The Bruins went on to defeat the Devils 3-2.
McQuaid did not practice Sunday, and it remains to be seen whether he'll wear equipment to protect his neck on Monday.