Adam McQuaid cleared to play after having stitches close neck wound

Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid has been cleared to play Monday against Ottawa, despite receiving nearly 25 stitches to close a wound in his neck Saturday night.

McQuaid's was injured when the skate of New Jersey's David Backes sliced open his neck.

"Initially when I didn't see any blood I figured that I was OK," McQuaid said. "They didn't blow the whistle and [play] was still going on in an obviously important part of the game. I was pretty helpless without my stick, but I was just trying to be a body getting in the way."

"I don't think many guys saw it on the ice," said McQuaid, whose stitches resemble a zipper running halfway across the right side of his neck. "Once I got to the…