The Boston Bruins got some bit of injury they did not want to hear. Top defenseman Charlie McAvoy underwent surgery to repair the damage sustained last Saturday night against the Montreal Canadiens.
McAvoy took a shot from Noah Dobson off the face. While he seemed mostly all right, McAvoy left the game and did not return midway through the second period.
The speculation was that he could have sustained a broken facial bone, dental damage, and a potential concussion.
McAvoy had facial surgery, as Bruins insider Fluto Shinzawa first reported. However, that’s not the worst of it. Shinzawa also reported that the Bruins will be without McAvoy indefinitely. That’s a huge blow to the club. Boston has had a resurgent season after missing the playoffs last year.
Bruins coach Marco Sturm had this to say, per NHL.com:
“He’s doing good. He’s recovering right now at home, and we still don’t know how long he’s going to be out for.”
The Bruins have dealt with numerous injuries this season. The biggest aside from McAvoy has been Elias Lindholm. Lindholm will be out long term, with other forwards Casey Mittelstadt and Viktor Arvidsson on the shelf as well.
The injuries will be a major test for Boston’s depth. Thus far, the club has not slowed down. But who knows how long the team can sustain its current play? Of course, having superstars like David Pastrnak and Jeremy Swayman is crucial.
Unfortunately, there’s no telling how long Pastrnak and Swayman can keep the team above water. So, it will be up to the other players on the Bruins’ roster to step up.
“Other Guys Have to Step Up” for Bruins
Sturm also added this clear, direct comment about the team moving forward:
“Other guys have to step up, I think that’s the bottom line. It can’t be Zadorov and Lindholm.”
It’s not that Nikita Zadorov and Hampus Lindholm haven’t stepped up for the Bruins. It’s that other blueliners like Mason Lohrei must fill the void left by the team’s best defenseman.
Lohrei has been a healthy scratch at times this season. But McAvoy’s injury opened up a spot for his return to the lineup. Other defensemen like veteran Andrew Peeke and Henri Jokiharju will need to do their share to keep the Bruins’ blue line humming along.
Aspirot a Pleasant Surprise for Boston
Amid the uncertainty surrounding McAvoy’s injury situation, Jonathan Aspirot has been a pleasant surprise. The 26-year-old undrafted blueliner has earned himself a spot on the top pairing with Zadorov this season.
The longtime AHLer bounced around several organizations before landing with the Bruins this season. His good showing in Providence earned him a call-up amid the current injury situation. While he’s yet to earn a point this season, Aspirot has been solid, if unspectacular. That’s what the Bruins need right now.
The time for flashy, over-the-top defense is gone. The team must prioritize playing well and keeping the puck out of the back of the net. It may sound simplistic. But when teams go through extended injury periods, the best thing to do is to get back to basics.
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