Bruins ‘optimistic' McQuaid will return Thursday

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WILMINGTON -- Adam McQuaid has been a regular contributor at practice again for the Bruins over the past couple of days after missing four games with a headneck injury. Even Claude Julien said hes optimistic that the rugged defenseman will be able to play in the home-and-home series against the Habs starting Thursday night.

McQuaid tumbled head-first into the boards against the Carolina Hurricanes, appeared close to a return to the Bruins lineup last week and then disappeared from the ice for three days while undergoing a battery of tests. Both the player and the team were careful not to term it a setback, and Julien seems to think that McQuaid will be able to suit up for a couple of pivotal games against a reeling Habs team.

Hes feeling good, said Julien. Its just a question of time here. Im optimistic and thats what Im allowed to be when it comes to him being ready for Thursday. Ive made some comments in the past and theyve come back to bite me, but hes been fine for a few days now. Im very confident that things will keep going in that direction.

Steve Kampfer has played two games during McQuaids absence and has shown a little of the rust one might expect for a player who missed the first six games of the season with a knee injury. McQuaid, meanwhile, has missed all but three games this season. He started it with a virus, and then, almost immediately, he was out of the lineup again after he slammed his head.

Both McQuaid and the Bruins have to be hoping his return to the lineup is a lengthy and healthy one starting Thursday night.

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