Wagner Suffered from Irregular Heartbeat During Tampa Series

BostonBruins.com - If Chris Wagner has learned anything over the last few months, it's that there is plenty in life that you just can't control.
"And even when you think you have control, you don't," said Wagner. "I think a lot of people learned that in life in the past seven months or so. And then you just have to be adaptable."
That was made clear for Wagner once again last weekend when he suffered a frightening episode during the Bruins' Game 4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Wagner began suffering from an elevated heart rate during the second period and tried to play through it before realizing that something wasn't quite right.
"My heart rate was kind of pounding," Wagner said during his end-of-season media availability on Friday afternoon from Cape Cod. "I'm usually pretty good about recovering on the bench. Kind of knew something was up and kind of played through the second with the racing heartbeat and started to get some tests done in between the second and third.
"When it comes to your heart you've really got to be careful. That scared me a lot."

It was during the intermission that the Bruins medical staff determined that Wagner had an irregular heartbeat also known as Atrial fibrillation, which required a trip to a local hospital in Toronto for several hours. Further testing determined that Wagner would recover and that it is unlikely there will be any long-term effects for the 29-year-old.
"Obviously, I'm going to get some more tests done next week," said Wagner, who added that he has never experienced heart issues in the past. "But I guess it's pretty common with athletes and it could be a one-time thing as well. Probably the best heart problem to have, I guess you could say that."
With Wagner requiring a trip to a hospital outside of the bubble, he was forced to quarantine in his hotel room for the remainder of the Bruins' stay in Toronto. If the B's had advanced, Wagner said that it was possible he would have returned at some point.
"That probably would have [made me] a little nervous," Wagner said when asked if he could have played in Game 5 if not for quarantine restrictions. "But at the end of the day, the doctors said I was fine. An elimination game, I would probably have tried to give it a whirl. The quarantine part is kind of out of my control. Just a tough situation overall."

Grinding Through

It was not a smooth return to the rink for David Pastrnak this summer. After missing nearly all of training camp due to quarantine requirements, the winger injured himself in Game 1 against Carolina and missed the following three contests before returning for the clinching first-round victory in Game 5. The 24-year-old finished the postseason with 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 10 games but acknowledged that he was never at full strength.
"Obviously, the injury was part of hockey. That happens. It was bothering me pretty much every game," said Pastrnak, who noted he was not injured during the celebration of Patrice Bergeron's double-overtime winner in Game 1 against Carolina. "But it was something that I could still play. Wasn't 100 percent at all but I got to that point where I could play through it. I was happy that I could play.
"Training camp, I don't know, it's just unfortunate. The rules are I was stuck up in quarantine for 28 days with about 20 or 25 negative tests. That was obviously tough, and I really wish I could have been part of the training camp."
Pastrnak said he felt his best during Boston's Game 5 loss against Tampa, while adding that he did not believe that his conditioning was hindered by having to sit out training camp.
"I didn't feel bad conditioning. I felt good there actually," said Pastrnak. "The main focus for me was the injury. That was what was bothering me the most. I think conditioning wise, I was feeling good…it was obviously so much more fun when you're feeling healthy and you feel like you can contribute more and help the team more.
"It's very frustrating, but how I said, this stuff is unfortunately part of hockey and its stuff you're going to deal with and obviously try to prevent it as a player. These kinds of injuries just happen."
In the end, it was another stellar season for Pastrnak, who tied for the league lead with 48 goals, but one he will always look back on with a sense of dread given how things transpired with the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Obviously, a crazy season, nobody expected this to happen," said Pastrnak. "The only thing that comes in my mind is that I want things back to normal…just really excited and can't wait to be back for the next season and hopefully things are going to be fine."

Banged Up B's

Sean Kuraly's nifty feed to Brad Marchand to tie Game 2 against the Lightning late in the third period proved to be his final act of the season, as he did not play again in the series, with the 27-year-old saying on Friday morning that a nagging groin injury forced him to sit out.
"It actually had been a couple of games," said Kuraly, who added that he will not need surgery. "Just a nagging injury that I tried to play with for a couple games and it just got to a point where we realized not only was it not able to heal while we were playing, it was just getting worse.
"The best road forward was to do what we did according to the medical people. A big asset to game is skating and when I can't do that there wasn't really a way I could get out on the ice."
Patrice Bergeron said on Thursday that he also dealt with a nagging groin injury during the postseason, an ailment that the Bruins' alternate captain had had to battle at times for several years.
"The usual. It's been my groin over the last few years. Nothing has changed," said Bergeron. "It's been the same kind of lingering issues and chronic issues. It's on and off and comes in and out.
"I think I'm gonna have to take some time off and just make sure that it's back and feeling good. Obviously, I know it's the same song and dance that I've been telling you guys for a few years."

Keeping in Touch

Jaroslav Halak said he has been in touch with fellow netminder Tuukka Rask on several occasions since Rask departed the bubble during the first round to be with his family. Halak believes that the duo will be back together again next season.
"I was in contact with him," said Halak. "Obviously, we are good friends off the ice, so we kept talking in the bubble…I talked to him a bunch of times and obviously the approach for next season doesn't change anything. I believe that we'll be together and hopefully better than ever."