Bruins’ David Backes exits Game 5 after head-to-head hit
TAMPA — The Bruins lost forward David Backes after a scary collision with Tampa Bay’s J.T. Miller late in the second period of Sunday’s Game 5. The team said he would not return to the contest.
In a scrum near the Lightning blue line, Backes had his head down looking for the puck when Miller blasted him. It appeared to be shoulder to head on first glance, but replays revealed it was more head to head.
Backes immediately looked in trouble before he hit the ice. He lay motionless on the ice for several minutes before eventually sitting up and then being helped to the bench by teammates. Medical staff helped him to the locker.
No penalty was called on Miller, who just minutes later delivered Tampa’s go-ahead goal on the power play.
Backes has suffered at least one concussion in his Bruins career, missing three games in January 2017 with the ailment.
It was the second time this season Backes has been injured in Tampa. On St. Patrick’s Day, Backes suffered a deep cut on his thigh courtesy of Yanni Gourde’s skate blade. Backes was sliced and bleeding profusely as went to the locker room to get stitched up that day. He missed two weeks and five games because of that injury.
