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Claude Julien says Nathan Horton is absolutely not playing tonight; May skate in warmups though

Boston Bruins v Tampa Bay Lightning - Game Four

TAMPA, FL - MAY 21: Nathan Horton #18 of the Boston Bruins controls the puck in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at St Pete Times Forum on May 21, 2011 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

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After what happened to Nathan Horton in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals receiving a severe concussion thanks to a wicked hit from Canucks defenseman Aaron Rome, Horton’s injury has been a point to rally for the Bruins through the series. Before the start of Game 4, Bruins legend Bobby Orr got the crowd roaring waving Horton’s flag as he was the honorary captain of the night. Meanwhile, the team pushed back harder to shutout the Canucks as chants of “Nathan Horton” echoed through TD Garden. During Game 6, Horton was in attendance and waved to the fans from the tunnel sending the crowd into a frenzy in Boston.

If that wasn’t enough to get the Bruins stirred up, Horton flew to Vancouver with the team to be with them for Game 7 tonight to share in what could be a crowning moment for the team. Horton’s appearance in Vancouver led many to wonder aloud if Horton might actually play just a week after being knocked out of Game 3 and the rest of the series. Bruins coach Claude Julien put that all that talk to rest this morning in Vancouver.

CSN New England’s Joe Haggerty was on hand this morning when the question about whether or not Horton might play was posed to the coach.

Julien scoffed at the question during Wednesday morning’s availability after speculation mushroomed after CSNNE.com reported Horton was on the team charter flight to Vancouver with his teammates

“No,” said Julien while cutting off the question of whether Horton would play. “It’s ridiculous. So let’s put an end to that.”


While having Horton play is ridiculous, apparently the notion of him taking the warm up skate with the team before tonight’s Game 7 isn’t as crazy. Word is circulating around Rogers Arena tonight that Horton will in fact dress for the pregame skate and presumably give the team that one last emotional lift they’re looking for before the start of tonight’s winner-take-all Game 7.

TSN’s Darren Dreger as well as the Kurtenblog boys mentioned on Twitter that there’s strong speculation that Horton will take warmup tonight. Taking warmup to inspire the team is one thing and a really great move by the Bruins to allow that as long as he’s healthy enough to stand it. The notion that he might play, however, is insanity.

If, by some stroke of medical malpractice or miracle Horton is allowed to play, the NHL will have a lot of questions to answer regarding their concussion protocols, the doctors who would allow such a move, and as well as their punishment protocol for suspending Aaron Rome for an unprecedented in the Stanley Cup finals four game total.

We’d bet our house that Horton isn’t going to play but since the speculation is going to swirl about that before the game starts anyhow, it needs to be addressed no matter how crazy it is. It’s a great gesture for the Bruins to give Horton that one last taste before hitting the press box tonight but the idea he might play is insanity. For the Bruins sake, let’s hope they don’t need any further inspiration than Horton just taking a few laps on skates before the game to get them going. If they need him on the ice badly to rally their thoughts, they’ve got bigger problems to deal with.