McAvoy can’t play
Length of absence unclear
The Bruins assembled at center ice of the Garden yesterday morning for a group portrait in their black and gold game jerseys.
Injured center Patrice Bergeron, out with a fractured right foot, was wearing skates and seated in a folding chair that was ushered along the ice to the front row by Brandon Carlo.
Bruins executives followed, led by team president Cam Neely. The last person out of the tunnel was rookie defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who gingerly navigated the slippery ice surface in a pair of beach sandals.
McAvoy’s choice of footwear suggests the leg injury he suffered Saturday night could be serious. Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed McAvoy will not dress for tonight’s game against the Detroit Red Wings at the Garden.
“I have nothing new to report. He’s getting evaluated (yesterday),” Cassidy said. “He will not play (tonight), and we will go from there.”
McAvoy was injured 37 seconds into Saturday’s victory against the Montreal Canadiens. He appeared to trip awkwardly over the stick of Canadiens right winger Brendan Gallagher in the Bruins zone. McAvoy exited the ice in obvious pain and did not return.
It’s the second injury absence this year for McAvoy, who missed four games between Jan. 23 and Feb. 1 following a routine heart procedure. The Bruins were 3-1 in his absence.
Cassidy said Carlo will take McAvoy’s slot on top defensive pair with captain Zdeno Chara. Cassidy added Torey Krug, Kevan Miller and Nick Holden, who was acquired from the Rangers before the trade deadline, will start with either Matt Grzelcyk or Adam McQuaid in the sixth slot.
“We can go in different directions, but Carlo is an easy one to slot back in with (Chara because) they’ve played together,” Cassidy said. “Krug was with Miller and (Grzelcyk) was with Miller if he goes back in.
“We are going to keep Holden, and he can play left or right. That is something we are going to sort through. We had all seven out there, but (the lineup) is not set in stone.”
McAvoy is a rookie, but he’s put up veteran numbers. He has seven goals and 25 assists with a plus-26 rating against opponents’ top lines and averages 22:07 minutes per game.
“There are some individuals that come up really easily and have the great ability to make the adjustment, but every time you see that, it is very special,” Chara said. “They push themselves so much ahead of their schedule, and (McAvoy) is one.”
Carlo and Chara played together most of last season and were reunited for a few shifts against the Canadiens. Carlo buys into the “next man up” philosophy that has been an unwelcome component of the B’s season and is happy to be back with Chara.
“It is great that we have the capabilities and the structure here to be able to throw anybody into the lineup at any point and mix and match pairings,” Carlo said.
“I think (injuries) are part of being in the league, and part of being a pro (is being able) to step up to the challenge when it comes. I like to challenge myself every day.
“In this stretch, I’m going to go out and work hard and talk to (Chara) on the ice so he doesn’t yell at me on the bench.”
Bruins notes
Cassidy said goaltender Tuukka Rask was nursing a minor lowerbody injury and could sit out the Red Wings game. Backup goalie Anton Khudobin recorded his 14th win of the season against the Canadiens and would start in Rask’s place.
“(Rask) stayed off (yesterday), and we’ll keep an eye on that one,” Cassidy said. “Other than not having skated in three days, it doesn’t look like he will go (tonight), but that is just an observation.
“We have a very capable backup so that we will judge (this) morning and see how he is feeling.”