Dennis Seidenberg of Boston Bruins out for season with ACL/MCL tear

With less than five minutes to play in the third period on Friday night, Boston Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg was tangled with Cory Conacher of the Ottawa Senators behind the net and twisted his right leg. He left the ice with 4:49 left and did not return.

It was the last time he’ll hit the ice with the Bruins this season.

Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced on Saturday that Seidenberg will miss the remainder of the 2013-14 season with a torn ACL/MCL in his right knee. The projected recovery time is 6-8 months.

Seidenberg was second on the Bruins in average ice time with 21:50, including 2:24 per game shorthanded. He’s skated with rookie Torey Krug this season, helping the Bruins’ defender to tally 20 points in 38 games this season.

The Bruins’ blueline remains solid, with Zdeno Chara, Johnny Boychuk, Adam McQuaid, Krug and Dougie Hamilton. Both Kevan Miller and David Warsofsky have seen time with the B’s this season.

They have just over $3.1 million in cap space, and have two players on long-term injured reserve already in Chris Kelly and Marc Savard. (For more on LTIR, check Cap Geek.) Seidenberg signed a 4-year contract extension at the start of the season that kicks in for 2014-15.