WASHINGTON, D.C.Nathan Horton didnt travel with the team to Washington Sunday, but the concussed right winger is continuing to make positive strides.
Horton made it through an exercise bike workout on Saturday without any complications, and was scheduled to jump out on the ice by himself on Sunday in the next step of concussion recovery protocol. Horton suffered a mild concussion when he was hit in the head by Flyers forward Tom Sestito on Jan. 22, and has missed five games since that shootout win over Philly.
Since its Hortons second concussion over the last eight months, the Bruins are rightfullytaking their time with his comeback along the typical NHL protocol for head injuries.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Boston sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Hes starting to skate, said coach Claude Julien. The next time you see himwith full equipment practicing onice is when youll know hes made the next step after that. Thats basically it. Hes starting to skate, which is another step in the right direction. Its all the protocol of the league. He needs to be symptom-free of the headaches, and then you go from the bike, to the ice, and to contact.
Weve just got to make sure over the next couple of days that there are no setbacks. With some guys there are and with some guys there wont be. We have to take it day-by-day.
The offense has struggled a bit without Horton, averaging only 2.4 goals per game since he got hurt before their breakout four goals against the Capitals on Sunday afternoon.