Everyone knew that Andrew Ladd was playing with a bum shoulder -- which turned out to be fractured -- and it certainly looked like he was playing injured at times. There were times I noted while watching Ladd after he returned that he just appeared to be laboring, unwilling to get into the corners at times and certainly not the player he was before the injury.
A fractured shoulder explains all that.
Now we learn that Marian Hossa was playing with a sprained MCL in his right knee, one that he suffered in Game 1. From ESPN Chicago:
“In Game 1, I sprained my MCL, so it was kind of a little difficult,” Hossa said. “But you don’t feel the pain as much compared to if you lose, it would be more painful.”
Hossa, who also dealt with the lingering effects of shoulder surgery all season and a banged-up back in the finals, said he got through the pain with two braces.
Once again, we’re reminded of just how much sacrifice these players go through during the course of the Stanley Cup playoffs, how much pain they are willing to fight through in order to lift that Cup over their heads.