WILMINGTON, MAIt was a close call, but Daniel Paille didnt look too much worse for the wear on Monday.
The fourth line winger took a high-stick to the left eye area in last weeks loss to the Buffalo Sabres, and didnt make the trip to Toronto last weekend. But Paille returned to practice on Monday morning at Ristuccia Arena, and said that he was feeling pretty good.
He took part in most of practice, but Paille did skip the three-on-three battle drills to avoid taking another stick to the eye area.
There were still some marks around his eye area where the stick had found its way under his visor, and Paille revealed that he hasnt been cleared by the Bruins medical staff quite yet.
I dont feel too bad after a couple of days off. At first I was a bit worried about what could happen to my eye, but luckily it wasnt anything too serious, said Paille, who has a goal and three assists in seven games. They wanted to let me rest for a couple of days and heal. Hopefully Ill play Wednesday, but well see. Its a goal for me to see if I can play.
It was a little bit of worry, I guess, but as the days went by I saw everything perfectly clear. The eye exams went off very well. The docs are just telling me to be aware and to be careful with it. Everything else with my face is okay.
After skating in the Buffalo game with third line forward Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly, Paille was back skating on the fourth line with Jamie Tardif and Lane MacDermid at Mondays practice. Claude Julien said that Paille hasnt been ruled out for Wednesday nights game against the Montreal Canadiens, and that will likely come down to getting the proper medical clearance.
Boston Bruins
Paille is doing fine. The doctors havent cleared him yet, but you saw him skating today, said Julien. Right now there is nobody thats a definite no moving forward here for the next game against Montreal. But well be making those decisions tomorrow.
With Shawn Thornton out and Brad Marchand still a question mark for the midweek game against the Canadiens, an addition of Paille could bring a nice lift to the Black and Gold lineup.