The Athletic's Fluto Shinzawa brings us the latest report, revealing that Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy is currently listed as day-to-day due to an upper-body injury. Although details about the injury remain scant, Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery assured the media that McAvoy's ailment does not involve his head.
McAvoy had to exit prematurely from the Bruins' recent clash against the Buffalo Sabres, unable to complete the game after sustaining an injury slightly over a minute into the third period, contributing to their 3-1 loss. Post-game information was limited, with only the disclosure of an upper-body injury, leaving the team uncertain about the extent of the setback.
A linchpin in the Bruins' defensive lineup, McAvoy boasts leadership in various statistical categories. His potential absence would undoubtedly create a significant void, especially considering the Bruins are already missing defenseman Derek Forbort, who was placed on LTIR recently. The team might have to turn to alternatives like Ian Mitchell to fill the void during McAvoy's potential absence.
In the ongoing season, McAvoy has showcased impressive offensive contributions, maintaining nearly a point-per-game pace with three goals and 14 assists in 21 games. His ice time averages over 24 minutes per game, reflecting an increase of almost a minute compared to his career average. However, signs of wear and tear seem apparent, with McAvoy experiencing a downturn in performance. In the past ten games, he has been a minus player in nine instances, accumulating a combined -11 during that period.
While plus/minus doesn't provide a comprehensive narrative, it does raise concerns about McAvoy's recent performance dip. Despite contributing six assists in the last ten games, the defenseman, who commenced the season with 11 points in 11 games, appears to have encountered a slowdown in recent weeks.
