It was mostly a day for celebration for the Bruins, even with the controversial absence of Tim Thomas, as they visited the White House to commemorate their Stanley Cup championship.
But there was one bit of concerning news that had nothing to do with any political statements. Bruins forward Nathan Horton is believed to have suffered a mild concussion and appears unlikely to play Tuesday against Washington after taking a hit to the head Sunday in Philadelphia.
"I don't have an official update other than I think it's a mild concussion from what I heard and what I saw last night," Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli told reporters after the White House visit. "I talked to him again today and these things are day-to-day. It may not be, there's that gray area between when you take your impact tests and you see how it is the next day, the following day and then you make that determination. He's in that gray area."
Horton was hit by Flyers forward Tom Sestito early in the second period of Sunday's 6-5 shootout win. Horton finished the period, but was held out of the third. Horton, who has 17-15-32 totals in 46 games this season, has not missed a game this year, but did suffer a severe concussion in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final last June on a late hit by Vancouver defenseman Aaron Rome.
Horton did not play again in the Final. Rome also missed the last four games of the series when he was suspended for the hit. Sestito also appeared to deliver his hit late and has been suspended once already this year. Sestito was suspended for two preseason and two regular season games for a hit from behind on Rangers forward Andre Deveaux, but there has been no indication from the league that he will face any supplemental discipline for the hit on Horton.
If Horton cannot play against the Capitals, Zach Hamill will return to the lineup. Hamill has two assists and is a plus-5 in 12 games with Boston this season, but has not had a point in his last nine games.
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