The Boston Bruins may have picked up a hard-fought 3-2 overtime win over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night, but the victory came with another potential setback. Center Elias Lindholm left the game late in the second period with what the team is calling an upper-body injury, and he did not return.
The play in question came during a face-off just outside the Bruins’ defensive zone. Lindholm appeared to be in discomfort immediately after the draw, made his way to the bench, and then headed down the tunnel to the locker room. That was the last we saw of him on the ice for the night.
After the game, head coach Marco Sturm confirmed that Lindholm would undergo further testing on Wednesday. The Bruins had the day off following a stretch of three games in four nights, but the timing of this injury is far from ideal. Boston is set to host the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday in their final home game before the Olympic break.
It’s worth noting that Lindholm already missed time earlier this season after absorbing a heavy hit from Buffalo’s Jordan Greenway. For a Bruins team that’s been grinding through a tough schedule and leaning heavily on its veteran core, another injury to a top-six center is the kind of news that makes you hold your breath.
On a brighter note, Tuesday was a special day for defenseman Hampus Lindholm - and not just because he opened the scoring against Nashville. Just hours before puck drop, Lindholm was named to Team Sweden’s Olympic roster as an injury replacement, becoming the eighth Bruins player selected for the Games.
He wasted no time celebrating the honor. In the first period, Lindholm fired a shot from the point that deflected off a Predators skater and found its way past Juuse Saros to give Boston an early lead.
“I have some really good memories playing for the national team,” Lindholm said after the game. “Any time you put it on, it doesn’t matter what scenario, it’s such a cool jersey. Has so much history tied to it… It’s going to be a great honor to go there.”
Lindholm’s goal was a fitting way to mark the occasion, and his presence on the Olympic stage will be another chance for Bruins fans to see one of their own shine on the international level.
Meanwhile, north of the border, the Toronto Maple Leafs are in the middle of a rough stretch. They wrapped up a five-game homestand Tuesday night with a 7-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres - a game that saw them surrender seven goals and extend their winless streak to five (0-4-1).
The loss leaves Toronto eight points back of Boston for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot, and the frustration is starting to show.
“We look at scoring as everything, and it’s not everything,” said Leafs head coach Craig Berube. “You are not going to consistently win in this League by focusing on just scoring goals; you have to play the full rink, and right now, we are not doing a good enough job without the puck, that’s it.”
Berube’s words cut to the heart of Toronto’s issues. The offense has firepower, but defensive lapses and inconsistent play away from the puck continue to haunt them. With the playoff race heating up and the Olympic break looming, the Leafs are running out of time to right the ship.
As for the Bruins, they’ll be hoping Elias Lindholm’s injury isn’t serious. With momentum building and another big matchup on deck, they can’t afford to lose another key piece.