Boston center Marc Savard left early in the third period of Tuesday's Game 6 against Carolina after a knee-to-knee hit with Hurricanes forward Chad LaRose -- but coach Claude Julien said he'll be ready for Game 7.
Savard didn't play after the collision at 6:12 of the third period. He went right to the bench, tried to skate during a timeout, and finally went to the locker room.
"I'm the one who sent him off," Julien said in his postgame news conference after Boston's series-tying 4-2 victory at the RBC Center, adding that the time left in the game was a factor in the decision.
Savard's goal midway through the second period proved to be the game-winner. He's tied with Michael Ryder for the team lead in playoff points with 11 and averages more than 19 minutes of ice time.
"He’ll be fine for next game," Julien said.