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On the play, Zadorov made contact with Anaheim\u2019s Frank Vatrano. On replay, Zadorov didn\u2019t appear to land an elbow, though Vatrano went down and the referee\u2019s arm went up. Zadorov then turned to Vatrano, who had gotten up, and knocked him down again.<\/p>\n
Zadorov wouldn\u2019t confirm that it was Vatrano\u2019s reaction that got him steamed, but he did offer an emotional response to the question, while defending his physical style.<\/p>\n
\u201cListen, we are Boston Bruins and we play that brand of hockey, and I\u2019m fitting this brand really well. And I believe it fits me pretty well, as well,\u201d said the 6-foot-7-inch, 244-pound Zadorov. \u201cAnd I\u2019ve been playing my whole life that way. I\u2019m a big, physical D. I\u2019m an emotional person on and off the ice, and I\u2019m emotionally invested on and off the ice. So, when I go out there, I will die for any of my teammates and this logo that\u2019s on my chest. That\u2019s what I play for, I play for the pride. So, when I go out there, I\u2019ll leave everything on the ice. <\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes emotions can get ahead of you. It happens. But at the end of the day, that\u2019s why they brought me here, to play that brand of the hockey.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zadorov, who has a team-high 29 penalty minutes on a club that entered Monday leading the league with 119 PIMs, bristled at the notion that his actions Friday were selfish.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo maybe some people can say some penalties are selfish. I can say, \u2018Talk to any of my teammates, present or past, and ask them if I\u2019ve ever been selfish in my life on the ice,\u2019 \u201d said Zadorov, who led the NHL in PIMs in each of the last two seasons. \u201cI will do anything for those guys and for this team. Let\u2019s just leave it that way.\u201d<\/p>\n
While disappointed in the short term, Zadorov said he wasn\u2019t sure how he\u2019d feel about the benching long term. He was passionate in talking about the support he\u2019s received in the locker room.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know. We\u2019ll see. I mean, it\u2019s hard to judge right now, obviously,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to go up there and play with those guys. Obviously, our team is winning. It\u2019s great to be here right now. The energy is unbelievable. I\u2019m glad I have the teammates I have. They\u2019ve been unbelievable for me the past couple days. They were shoulder to shoulder with me, and I know I can trust them with everything. So that was probably the biggest help, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zadorov skated with Connor Clifton, a healthy scratch the last three games, at Monday\u2019s practice, but Sturm said not to read anything into the pairings at practice.<\/p>\n
The coach stopped short of saying Zadorov would return Tuesday night against the Stars, but that feels probable.<\/p>\n
\u201c[Monday\u2019s] lines don\u2019t mean anything for [Tuesday]. We\u2019ll see. We\u2019ll talk about it [and] sleep through it,\u201d said Sturm. \u201c[Zadorov\u2019s] good. He\u2019s a competitor. He wants to be on the ice all the time. He wants to help the team. I know that. And I really believe he\u2019s going to be even better when he comes back. So, I\u2019m pretty confident that he will do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked if he planned on being in the lineup, Zadorov turned the question around: \u201cYou asked [Sturm] the question, what did he say?\u201d<\/p>\n
Informed Sturm said not to pay attention to Monday\u2019s pairings, Zadorov smiled and said, \u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Pavel Zacha was a full participant in practice after the first-line center missed the game against the Kings with an upper-body injury. Sturm said a decision will be made on Zacha\u2019s status after Tuesday\u2019s morning skate … Sturm ended practice by having players line up at the far blue line and shoot at an open net. Anyone who missed had to take a lap. There were more than a few shots off target. \u201cHopefully we don\u2019t get any empty-netters,\u201d said Sturm. \u201c[There were] a lot of missed shots.\u201d Most every player took a lap regardless, much to the dismay of Morgan Geekie, who cashed in on his slapper. <\/p>\n
Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @globejimmcbride<\/a>.<\/p>\n