March 5 (UPI) -- Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid expects to be in the lineup on Monday, two days removed from receiving 25 stitches to close a wound in his neck after being cut by the skate of teammate David Backes.
McQuaid, who was cleared to play Sunday, did not reveal if he plans to wear equipment to protect the right side of his neck in Monday's game against the Ottawa Senators.
"Initially, when I didn't see any blood, I figured that I was OK," the 30-year-old McQuaid said of the incident. "They didn't blow the whistle, and (play) was still going on in an obviously important part of the game. I was pretty helpless without my stick, but I was just trying to be a body getting in the way."
"I don't think many guys saw it on the ice. Once I got to the bench, Colin Miller at first was like, 'Oh, you're OK.' Then, 'No, actually, you're cut. You might want to have it looked at.' "
McQuaid did precisely that, retreating to the locker room in the Bruins' eventual 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
"He's a tough customer," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said of McQuaid, who has collected two goals, six assists and 62 penalty minutes in 60 games this season.
McQuaid has 12 career goals, 48 assists and 581 penalty minutes in 407 contests -- all with the Bruins.