Bruins coach Marco Sturm revealed on Wednesday that Charlie McAvoy has undergone facial surgery and is recovering at home in Boston. Sturm said there is still no timetable for McAvoy’s return.
“Charlie had facial surgery, successfully,” Sturm told reporters in Anaheim. “He’s doing good. He’s recovering right now at home. We still don’t know how long he’s going to be out.”
McAvoy got hit in the mouth by a slap shot Saturday night in Montreal, a gruesome-looking injury that left a pool of blood on the ice. On replay, he appeared to lose at least one tooth.
McAvoy was able to fly back to Boston with the team late Saturday night, which was at least encouraging insofar as he did not need to stay behind for further observation or emergency surgery.
Sturm said on Monday that McAvoy was still meeting with doctors and that he did not know at that point if the team’s No. 1 defenseman was going to need surgery. The only update on Tuesday was that McAvoy would not be traveling with the Bruins on their four-game road trip, which begins Wednesday night in Anaheim.
Sturm had said there would likely be an “official” update coming later Tuesday or sometime Wednesday. It seems like this is probably what he meant: that the Bruins would be able to announce McAvoy’s surgery.
As of Wednesday afternoon, there have not been any details on the exact nature or extent of McAvoy’s facial injuries.
With McAvoy out, the Bruins need to figure out how to best align their defense. Sturm switched up his pairings in-game during Monday’s 3-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, and he changed things again at Wednesday’s morning skate in Anaheim.
For Wednesday night, it appears Sturm will at least start the game with Hampus Lindholm paired with Henri Jokiharju, Nikita Zadorov with Jonathan Aspirot, and Mason Lohrei with Andrew Peeke. The Bruins also called up Mike Callahan from Providence for the trip. He’ll be a healthy scratch Wednesday, but could draw in later in the trip if anyone struggles.