Savard has a grade two concussion

Boston Bruins center Marc Savard has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 concussion according to Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli.

The difference between a Grade II and a Grade I concussion is memory loss after the injury. After sustaining a Grade II concussion, an athlete does not remember events following the impact and may not be able to recall events that led up to the injury.

Savard was injured Sunday during the third period of the Bruins' 2-1 loss to the Penguins. Penguins winger Matt Cooke hit Savard in the head with his left shoulder after Savard had taken a long shot that went wide of the Pittsburgh net.

Savard was diagnosed Monday in Boston by Bruins physician Dr. Peter Asnis and a concussion specialist from Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Asnis and the Bruins will continue to monitor Savard over the next 4-5 days, a team spokesman said. There is no timetable for Savard's return to the ice.

Savard told reporters Monday that he is experiencing severe headaches and fatigue. Savard previously was reported as suffering concussions in 2001, 2002 and 2004.

"When I saw him after the game, he wasn't as bad as Patrice [Bergeron]," Chiarelli said of his visit with Savard after Sunday's game. Bergeron suffered a broken nose and Grade 3 concussion on Oct. 27, 2007, when he was hit from behind by Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Randy Jones into the end boards behind the Flyers' net.

In Grade 3 concussions, loss of consciousness lasts longer than 5 minutes or amnesia lasts longer than 24 hours. Bergeron missed the remainder of the 2007-08 season. He was declared free of concussion symptoms in mid-June 2008 and returned to full training.

Savard, 32, is a 12-year NHL veteran in his fourth season with the Bruins. He is third in team scoring with 10 goals and 33 points in 41 games. He missed 15 games in October and November with a broken foot and eight games in January with a right-knee injury.

The five-day evaluation period means Savard will not play for the Bruins Tuesday night when they meet the Toronto Maple Leafs at the ACC Center, nor Thursday against the Flyers in Philadelphia or Saturday against the Canadiens in Montreal.