Jake DeBrusk was the hero of Monday’s Winter Classic, scoring both goals in the Bruins’ come-from-behind 2-1 win over the Penguins, but it came at a cost.
DeBrusk was seen in a walking boot after the game and did not travel with the team for its three-game West Coast road trip. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reported Wednesday afternoon that DeBrusk suffered a fractured fibula.
There has not been any official word from the team yet, and it wasn’t immediately clear what kind of recovery time DeBrusk is facing. Bruins coach Jim Montgomery told the Boston Globe's Matt Porter there would be an update on Thursday.
DeBrusk was actually hobbled twice during the game -- just before his first goal when he got drilled by a Matt Grzelcyk slap shot, and then late in regulation when he blocked a Penguins shot. It’s unclear which one caused the more serious injury. If it was the first, and DeBrusk went on to score two goals afterwards, then his Winter Classic performance just became even more legendary.
DeBrusk and the Bruins will hope he’s able to make a full recovery and pick up where he left off whenever he does return. He is in the midst of what is easily the best season of his career, as he is second on the team in goals with 16 and tied for third in points with 30. He was on pace for 66 points, which would blow his career high of 43 out of the water.
With DeBrusk out, here is how the Bruins lined up for Wednesday’s practice, according to the team:
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Taylor Hall - David Krejci - Pavel Zacha
Nick Foligno - Charlie Coyle - Trent Frederic
A.J. Greer - Tomas Nosek - Craig Smith
Matt Grzelcyk - Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm - Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort - Connor Clifton
Linus Ullmark
Jeremy Swayman
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