The Boston Bruins are going to have to find a way to snap out of their current funk without top-line winger Nathan Horton, who is going to be out longer than expected with a concussion.
A source close to Horton told CSNNE.com Tuesday that Horton’s return is “going to be awhile. He’s not close right now.”
Horton has missed the last 11 games after being diagnosed with a “mild concussion” as a result of a blindside hit by Philadelphia Flyers forward Tom Sestito.
The Bruins have struggled offensively without Horton, who was among the team’s leaders in goals and points before going down to injury. In the 11 games Horton has been out of the lineup, the Bruins have gone 4-7 and have been shutout four times. They’ve also seen their goal production dip from 3.72 goals per game to 1.8.
This is the second concussion Horton has suffered in the past eight months; the first a result of a nasty open-ice hit by Vancouver’s Aaron Rome in last year’s Stanley Cup final.
Horton has 17 goals and 32 points in 46 games this season.
