Bruins star Nikita Zadorov made a startling revelation on Friday: he played much of his team’s first-round series with a torn MCL.
Zadorov, 31, disclosed the injury to reporters following Boston’s 4-1 Game 6 loss to Buffalo, which gave the Sabres a 4-2 series win.
“I tore my MCL [in] Game 3,” he told reporters Friday. “Fully torn, off the bone.”
Incredibly, the defenseman managed to keep playing after the gruesome injury, as he averaged over 20 minutes of ice time per game.
He registered one assist and 37 penalty minutes during the series.
The Russian-born skater was extremely durable for the Bruins this regular season, as he missed just one contest.
He began his career in 2013 with Buffalo after it selected him 16th overall in the 2013 draft. He signed with the Bruins in 2024 on a six-year, $30 million deal.
After advancing to the second round for the first time since 2007, the Sabres will play the winner of the Canadiens-Lightning series.
Montreal and Tampa Bay will face off in a win-or-go-home Game 7 on Sunday.
