Forward of the 4 Nations Faceoff Last on Thursday towards Canada, the Boston Bruins introduced on Tuesday that defenseman Charlie McAvoy shall be out of the remainder of the match.
The #NHLBruins have issued the next replace on Charlie McAvoy.
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 18, 2025
In an announcement launched Tuesday morning, the Bruins confirmed the report that McAvoy was admitted to Massachusetts Common Hospital on Monday, the place he underwent testing associated to an upper-body damage he sustained earlier within the match. McAvoy continues to be evaluated by docs.
The Bruins mentioned they’ll present an extra replace on his situation when it turns into accessible. This can be a big loss for Group USA on their protection corps, who have been already with out Quinn Hughes. In what Jack Eichel known as the most important sport he has performed in a very long time, the People shall be with out their second-best defenseman.
McAvoy Was a Pressure for the Group USA
Within the first matchup in Montreal, Charlie McAvoy was a pressure on the backend. Everybody remembers the three fights in 9 seconds, nevertheless it was McAvoy’s hit on Connor McDavid that actually modified issues. After Canada went up 1-0 on a objective by McDavid, McAvoy stepped up in his personal defensive zone and laid out McDavid, sending a steady message that Group USA was right here.
That was the purpose of the sport on Saturday evening on the Bell Centre. As Matthew Tkachuk mentioned post-game, they needed to let Canada understand it was Group USA’s time now. Nonetheless, it is going to be a tall order due to McAvoy’s loss on the backend.
Though McAvoy has been held with out a level, he has been one of many group leaders in ice time. He performed 19:45 of ice in Sport 1 within the 6-1 victory over Finland. Then, within the 3-1 victory over Canada, he was on the ice for 19:27.
Jaccob Slavin and Brock Faber performed over 25 minutes of ice time within the first assembly towards Canada and can should be relied on once more if the People wish to cease a wholesome Canada group. Noah Hanifin performed simply above 20 minutes with Zach Werenski, and Adam Fox had round 14 minutes of ice time.
With McAvoy out of the lineup, Jake Sanderson will play his second sport of the match. Head coach Mike Sullivan will depend on this corps much more, particularly Werenski, Faber, and Slavin. He has to hope that Fox picks up his sport and turns into the participant he was final yr.
However it is a main blow to Group USA and their possibilities of successful on Thursday. It actually is the subsequent man up. Frank Seravalli tweeted, “Sources say present plan for Group USA doesn’t embrace any roster reinforcements in wake of accidents and McAvoy absence. USA has 12 forwards and 6 defensemen, so that they at the moment can’t herald anybody else for Thursday.”
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