Brandon Carlo Left Game 3 Early With Potential Concussion

Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo left Game 3 6:14 into the third period after he took a hard but clean hit from New York Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck. The Bruins never officially ruled Carlo out but he did not return for the rest of their 2-1 overtime win.

Brandon Carlo was playing the puck, looked up, and saw Clutterbuck closing in and accepted his fate. Clutterbuck did not target the head and the hit wasn’t late. Unfortunately, the result was not so favorable and Carlo was left on his knees dazed and struggling to get back up.

Given the recent concussion history for Brandon Carlo, there is obviously plenty of concern about his status not just for the next game but for his future. Brandon Carlo missed over a month this season after taking a late hit to the head from Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson. This is Carlo’s fourth concussion in his five seasons in the NHL.

“I talked to him there. …I guess I don’t know what to say but he said he was feeling pretty good,” Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said following the game. “He said he was feeling pretty good [postgame]. I don’t want to rule him out until I see him in the morning and there’s a ruling there from the medical staff.”

Brandon Carlo hasn’t registered on the scoresheet in the postseason and had just one goal and four assists in the regular season but when he’s been healthy, he’s been a factor in the success of the team. his breakouts are almost always clean and he’s been a perfect stay-at-home defenseman with what’s usually a puck-moving and offensive-minded defenseman as his partner.

If Brandon Carlo is out for Game 3, Cassidy will have to either insert defenseman Jarred Tinordi into the lineup again or dig down to the taxi squad give the fact the Bruins blue line is so battered right now. Defenseman Jakub Zboril (Upper-body) is still day-to-day.