Boston Bruins beloved player has been sidelined since February 15 after suffering a significant AC joint shoulder injury during the USA-Canada round-robin matchup at the 4 Nations Face-Off. The injury not only forced him off the ice but also led to a serious infection that required hospitalization overnight. His absence has coincided with a dramatic collapse for the Bruins, as they have struggled to stay competitive without their star blueliner.
He last played for Boston on February 8, and in the weeks that followed, the team’s season unraveled. What was once a hopeful playoff push quickly turned into a full-scale dismantling of the roster. The Bruins made massive trade deadline moves, parting ways with longtime franchise cornerstone Brad Marchand, who was sent to the Florida Panthers. They also shipped out defenseman Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs, forward Trent Frederic to the Edmonton Oilers, winger Justin Brazeau to the Minnesota Wild, and veteran center Charlie Coyle to the Colorado Avalanche. Now, with just eight games remaining in the regular season, the Bruins find themselves eight points out of the final playoff spot, clinging to slim postseason hopes.
Despite the dire situation, Charlie McAvoy is not ready to throw in the towel just yet. On Monday, the eight-year NHL veteran was back on the ice at Bruins practice, skating in a full-contact jersey for the first time since his injury. While his return date remains uncertain, there is growing optimism that he could be back as soon as Tuesday night, when the Bruins take on the Eastern Conference-leading Washington Capitals at TD Garden. With Boston in the midst of an eight-game losing streak, McAvoy’s return could provide a much-needed boost as they attempt to salvage their fading playoff hopes.
This season, McAvoy has appeared in 50 games, tallying seven goals and seven assists. Over his career, the 27-year-old has recorded 60 goals and 245 assists, recently surpassing the 300-point milestone. Whether or not he can help turn the Bruins’ fortunes around remains to be seen, but his potential return is one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season for Boston. Puck drop for Tuesday’s game against the Capitals is set for 7 p.m. ET.
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