NHL teams
Joe McDonald, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Dougie Hamilton out indefinitely

NHL, Boston Bruins

WILMINGTON, Mass. -- Boston Bruins defenseman Dougie Hamilton is out indefinitely with what appears to be an upper-body injury.

Bruins coach Claude Julien would not discuss the nature of the injury after Tuesday's practice at Ristuccia Arena.

Hamilton was hurt during the second period of Saturday's 2-1 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers. He attempted to return, playing only one brief shift before he was shut down for the remainder of the game. He will be evaluated again in the next few days, according to Julien.

Losing Hamilton's services in the midst of a five-game losing skid, while the team is fighting for a playoff spot, does not bode well for the Bruins. Until his injury, Hamilton had played in all 72 games this season, recording 10 goals and 32 assists for 42 points. He also had a minus-3 rating.

Prior to the team's recent three-game road trip, there was a sense that forward David Krejci would be able to return at some point during the weekend, but he missed both games in Florida against the Panthers on Saturday and then the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday.

Krejci admitted Krejci was a possibility for Sunday's game, but he wasn't cleared to play.

"I feel good, that's all I've got to say," Krejci said after Tuesday's practice.

Krejci suffered a partially torn MCL in his left knee on Feb. 20 and was expected to miss four to six weeks. He's hoping to return Thursday when the Bruins host the Anaheim Ducks at TD Garden.

"Once I feel good enough and I feel like I can help the team, then I'll be back," he said.

The Bruins have nine games remaining in the regular season and are locked with the Ottawa Senators in a battle for the final playoff spot.

"We have to pick it up. We have to win games, no matter how," Krejci said. "This is the only way to get into the playoffs."

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