Just when the Bruins seemed to be hitting their stride, the injury bug has crept back into the picture-and it’s targeting the center of the ice.
Boston dodged a scare last Saturday when defenseman Nikita Zadorov went down in the second period against Montreal. The way he left the ice didn’t look promising, but in a surprising turn, Zadorov returned for the third and finished the game.
He ended up sitting out Monday’s tilt against the Rangers but has since been back in the lineup for the last two games. Crisis averted-at least on that front.
But as one fire gets put out, another flares up.
Tuesday night’s 3-2 overtime win over the Predators came with a cost. Late in the second period, center Elias Lindholm exited with what the team labeled an upper-body injury.
He didn’t return and was ruled out for Thursday’s game against Philadelphia. Then, in that 6-3 win over the Flyers, things got even more complicated.
This time it was Pavel Zacha who went down-another upper-body injury, another top-six center off the bench. Zacha left in the second period and didn’t return. After the game, head coach Marco Sturm said updates would come Friday morning.
Friday brought some clarity-but not exactly comfort.
Following an optional skate, Sturm confirmed that both Lindholm and Zacha will not travel with the team to Tampa Bay for Sunday night’s Stadium Series showdown against the Lightning. Both players are set to undergo additional testing, and while Sturm didn’t expect either to miss next month’s Olympics, their short-term availability is very much in question.
After Sunday’s outdoor game, Boston has one more matchup before the Olympic break-a road game against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday. As of now, it’s hard to imagine either center being ready in time.
For a team that’s been leaning heavily on its depth down the middle, this stretch will be a test. Lindholm and Zacha have been key pieces in Sturm’s system, both playing big minutes and contributing on both ends of the ice. Their absence puts more pressure on the likes of Charlie Coyle and Morgan Geekie to step up, and it forces the Bruins to get creative with their bottom-six rotation.
The good news? Zadorov’s back, and the Bruins are still finding ways to win. But with two of their top centers sidelined and a marquee outdoor game on deck, Boston’s resilience is about to be tested once again.