Bruins dealt more uncertainty on injury front
A nightmare on Long Island for the Bruins was even worse than the 5-1 final score indicated Saturday night, as the Bruins suffered yet another loss on the personnel front, this time with Pavel Zacha ruled out of action early into the loss.
Zacha (lower body) will not return.
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 3, 2024
And to make matters worse, Zacha’s departure also failed to come with any sort of reassuring word from the B’s.
“I just know it’s a lower-body [injury],” Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery said following Saturday’s loss. “Don’t have any firm update. Whether it’s day-to-day or week-to-week, I don’t have an update.”
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With the Bruins truly off on Sunday as the team traveled from Long Island to Toronto ahead a Monday night tilt with the Maple Leafs, the focus now turns to Monday’s morning skate in Toronto. On Monday morning, Zacha’s presence alone will tell you a bit when it comes to availability, be it for that night or even Tuesday in Boston against the Oilers. An absence, however, and there’s only more wonder (panic) when it comes to what’s next for the Bruins.
The Bruins have been without center Matt Poitras after he underwent season-ending surgery last month, and they are currently without their top lefty defenseman Hampus Lindholm on a week-to-week basis. And the truth is that these Bruins aren’t built to withstand more injuries, but especially more injuries when it comes to high-impact talents.
With Zacha done for the night early into Saturday’s loss, Montgomery’s line blender went into overdrive in the top six, as David Pastrnak played at least five minutes of five-on-five time with Charlie Coyle, Brad Marchand, Danton Heinen, and Morgan Geekie by the night’s end.
Zacha, who has been Boston’s No. 2 center behind Coyle all year long from a usage standpoint, has put up 12 goals and 36 points in 58 games this season.