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| | Tuesday, January 11 | ||||||
| BOSTON -- Boston Bruins forward Jason Allison will miss the
rest of the season after deciding Tuesday to have surgery -- first on his left thumb and then on his right wrist.
"The whole year has been a disappointment," he said Tuesday night between periods of the Bruins' 3-2 loss to Toronto. "The first game I hurt my arm. I haven't been able to do things I know I can do." Allison, who's been troubled by the wrist since last season, hoped to make it through this campaign without surgery that would keep him out three to four months. After injuring thumb ligaments in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders, he was told surgery could wait, the Bruins said. But Dr. James Herndon said Tuesday that the injury was more serious than first thought and he will operate on Allison's thumb Wednesday. "Dr. Herndon looked at the MRI and determined that the left hand injury is more serious that the wrist and should be repaired first," Bruins general manager Harry Sinden said. The wrist surgery will be pushed back four to five weeks so Allison, whose wife is expecting a baby, won't have both hands in casts at the same time."I want to be able to brush my teeth, drive my car," he said. Allison's season comes to an end less than a week after he agreed to terms on a one-year contract extension. Losing Allison couldn't come at a worse time for Boston, which is 1-8-2 in its last 11 games and falling out of playoff contention in the Eastern Conference. "Every player now knows that he's not going to be here," Bruins coach Pat Burns said. "Some players are going to have to assume some roles. Obviously, it's a big blow. We have a big gap to fill. But now at least everyone knows the situation." Allison has led the Bruins in scoring in each of his two full seasons with the team. The 24-year-old center is the team's No. 3 scorer this season with 10 goals and 18 assists in 37 games, missing five because of the wrist."In a way, it could be a blessing in disguise," said Allison, whose left hand was in a cast. "Instead of playing not even close to 100 percent and not playing very well, at least this way I know it will be 100 percent when I come back."
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