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Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy exits game after appearing to take a slap shot to the face
McAvoy was quickly ruled out for the rest of the night.
The Bruins might have been dealt a brutal blow regarding their star defenseman on Saturday night.
Charlie McAvoy, Boston’s assistant captain and top blue-liner, appeared to take a slap shot to the face against the Canadiens. McAvoy keeled over immediately and went straight to the locker room for an evaluation. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game shortly after.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Bruins coach Marco Sturm provided a brief but somewhat hopeful update for his defensive stalwart.
“He’s doing OK, he’s just getting some tests done, I didn’t talk to anyone yet,” Sturm said. “Just try to get the testing done, try to get him home as soon as possible. Hopefully tonight with us.”
McAvoy has been one of Boston’s most reliable players since he entered the NHL in 2017. He’s averaged over 22 minutes of ice time in each of his nine seasons, and was averaging over 24 minutes on the ice in 2025. And though he hasn’t scored yet this season, McAvoy does have 14 assists so far.
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If McAvoy has to miss substantial time, it would certainly be detrimental for Boston’s defensive core. Henri Jokiharju would likely be the initial replacement for McAvoy, as he saw time in the lineup while Mason Lohrei was a healthy scratch for several games. But that would make three of the Bruins’ six defenders age 26 or younger.
Hampus Lindholm would immediately become the longest tenured Bruins defenseman if McAvoy is out, and he’s only been in Boston since 2022.
Boston rode a seven game win streak that the Senators snapped on Thursday, and got back in the win column with a 3-2 victory over the Canadiens. But the unsure status of McAvoy will loom large as the Bruins head back to Boston for a clash with the Hurricanes on Monday night.
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