The first quarter of the Bruins season has been a shaky one to say the least. With that being said, the kids have held down the fort better than expected while star after star showed up on the injury report.
It looks like the B’s are finally closing in on the return of the first big name to go down this season, Charlie McAvoy.
Charlie McAvoy: Back in Black. pic.twitter.com/0MEj7fMVL9
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 3, 2018
Shoutout Bruins twitter for getting me all juiced up so early on a Monday. No better way to start the work week than with this kid’s return.
With the maroon jersey off and the cobwebs shaken from McAvoy’s concussion he looks ready to cook. McAvoy started the year hot in the seven games he played prior to hitting concussion protocol. He’s still eighth on the team in points, which is more due to the top-heavy production of this team, but also proves the importance of getting McAvoy back in the lineup.
He will add a new dimension to the offense and has quietly cleaned up a few issues in their own end during the offseason. He’s not the perfect defender yet, but it matters less when he helps the Bruins keep the puck in the offensive zone.
Unfortunately, the fanbase has come to learn that with the good comes the bad this season. First it was Kevan Miller heading back to the injury list for an extended period of time at the end of last week.
With Kevan Miller out at least five weeks due to a larynx injury, here's the postgame column from Monday's loss in Toronto. https://t.co/PyhQwlQDGl
— Joe McDonald (@JoeyMacHockey) November 28, 2018
The poor, tough bastard was back from injury for a couple games before taking a Tavares shot to the throat last week. Now we’re looking at at least another month without one of the Bruins better stay at home defenseman.
I wish that were the end of the list, but it’s not. Krug was absent from Monday’s practice while JFK was back up with the NHL squad in his roster spot while McAvoy slotted into the defense reps for Krug.
#NHLBruins practice lines:
Marchand – Cave – Pasta
Donato – Krejci – DeBrusk
Heinen – Nordstrom/JFK- Acciari
Wagner- Kuraly – BackesGrzelcyk – Carlo
Moore – Kampfer
Lauzon – McAvoy
Clifton— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 3, 2018
Luckily it seems that Krug’s problems are some lingering bumps and bruises that culminated in a maintenance day Monday, but he will remain with the team and likely play tomorrow when they take on the Panthers in Florida.
#NHLBruins updates per Bruce Cassidy.
Torey Krug was given a maintenance day, he will travel, “I assume he will play”.
Charlie McAvoy has “graduated into contact practices, he’ll stay with the team and practice now.”
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 3, 2018
We’re still about a month out until everyone is back barring set backs and more injuries to the current roster. Oddly enough, if the Bruins keep scraping together points in the meantime, I’m okay with that. It’s good experience for the young guys that were here last season and are struggling this season and for the newbies up for the first time this year.
That doesn’t mean you should take down your lucky horseshoe from above your door, though. If the Bruins are to hit any type of long term slump it will be now. So bunker down, hope for the best and pray the new year brings better health.
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Feature Image via BostonSportsExtra
