The Boston Bruins will be without defenseman Charlie McAvoy for the foreseeable future due to the upper-body injury he suffered during the 4 Nations Face-Off.
McAvoy was ruled out for Thursday's 4 Nations championship showdown vs. Canada. On Monday night, he was hospitalized after reportedly experiencing severe pain from an infection caused by the ailment.
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According to Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli, the infection "required urgent medical attention to stabilize the infection and stop the spread with antibiotics, followed by a procedure to scrape it out and flush it clean." McAvoy's timetable to return to the Bruins is considered week-to-week as he waits for the area to heal. There is no long-term concern for McAvoy’s health, Seravalli adds.
The Bruins provided more detail on McAvoy's injury in a statement Wednesday morning.
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"Charlie McAvoy sustained an injury to his right shoulder acromioclavicular joint in Team USA’s 4 Nations Face-Off game against Finland on February 13," the statement read. "He underwent treatment, which was administered by Team USA’s medical staff. Upon returning to Boston, he developed increasing pain, for which he was evaluated by the Boston Bruins’ medical staff.
"After undergoing x-rays, MRIs, and bloodwork, he was diagnosed as having an infection in his right shoulder, as well as a significant injury to his AC joint. He underwent an irrigation and debridement procedure at Massachusetts General Hospital on February 18. He remains in the hospital, where he is being treated with IV antibiotics, and his condition is improving.”
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McAvoy's absence is a major blow to the Bruins, who are fighting for a playoff spot with a 27-24-6 record. The 27-year-old has seven goals and 16 assists in 50 games while averaging a team-high 23:40 this season.
As for Team USA, coach Mike Sullivan said Tuesday that Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes would join the team as McAvoy's injury replacement. Seravalli reports that Hughes decided he would only fly to Boston if there was a real chance he could play Thursday night.
The championship matchup between Team USA and Canada is scheduled for an 8 p.m. ET puck drop at TD Garden.
