Bruins’ Nikita Zadorov played through playoff series with torn MCL
Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov revealed he played through a fully torn MCL during the team's first-round playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres. The injury occurred in Game 3, yet Zadorov continued to play, averaging over 20 minutes of ice time per game. Despite his efforts, the Bruins lost the series 4-2, while the Sabres advanced to the second round for the first time since 2007.
- ▪Nikita Zadorov suffered a fully torn MCL in Game 3 of the Bruins' playoff series against the Sabres.
- ▪He continued to play in the series, averaging over 20 minutes per game and recording one assist and 37 penalty minutes.
- ▪The Bruins were eliminated in six games, while the Sabres advanced to the second round for the first time since 2007.
- ▪Zadorov played 81 regular-season games in 2025–26, missing only one contest before the playoffs.
- ▪He signed with the Bruins in 2024 on a six-year, $30 million contract.
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NHL Bruins’ Nikita Zadorov played through playoff series with torn MCL By jnissenyp Published May 2, 2026, 8:14 p.m. ET Bruins star Nikita Zadorov made a startling revelation on Friday: he played much of his team’s first-round series with a torn MCL. Zadorov, 31, disclosed the injury to reporters following Boston’s 4-1 Game 6 loss to Buffalo, which gave the Sabres a 4-2 series win. “I tore my MCL [in] Game 3,” he told reporters Friday. “Fully torn, off the bone.” Bruins star Nikita Zadorov played with a torn MCL in four games of the Bruins’ playoff series. Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images Incredibly, the defenseman managed to keep playing after the gruesome injury, as he averaged over 20 minutes of ice time per game. He registered one assist and 37 penalty minutes during the series.
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