The Boston Bruins are bringing a familiar face back into the fold, recalling 21-year-old forward Matthew Poitras from the AHL ahead of Thursday night’s matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers. With Elias Lindholm sidelined day-to-day due to an upper-body injury, Poitras is stepping into the lineup-and he’s doing so with a clear directive from head coach Marco Sturm.
“I think first of all, he’s got to be himself,” Sturm said pregame. “I don’t need to see anything special out of him. I want to see him go up and down, and play really good defensively.”
That’s a message rooted in trust and simplicity. Sturm isn’t asking Poitras to light up the scoresheet or force plays-he’s asking him to play his game, stay responsible, and let the rest come naturally. Poitras will be skating alongside Marat Khusnutdinov, a pairing that could give him a little more freedom knowing he’s got support on his line.
This won’t be Poitras’ first taste of NHL action. The 2022 second-round pick has already logged 66 career games with the Bruins, tallying six goals and 20 assists.
Last season, he appeared in 33 contests, putting up 11 points (1G, 10A). But this year, he’s spent his time developing in the AHL, where he’s been quietly productive-eight goals and 16 assists in 39 games with Providence.
The time in the minors wasn’t just about racking up points. For Poitras, it was about refining his game, building confidence, and staying ready.
“I think just simplifying my game,” Poitras said of his approach. “Trying to play fast and move my feet. When I simplify my game, the other stuff kind of just takes care of itself.”
That mindset-focus on the fundamentals, let the rest follow-has served him well. And now, with the Bruins needing a plug-and-play option, he’s earned the call.
Poitras also emphasized not letting the call-up distract from his development process: “The mindset was not to kind of sit and wait. For me, it was just go down and not worry about what’s going on up here.
Do my thing and worry about where I am.”
Boston will look to close out its pre-Olympic break home schedule with a strong performance against the Flyers on Thursday night (7 p.m. ET). After that, the Bruins head south for a unique outdoor showdown against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Raymond James Stadium in Florida.
For Poitras, it’s another chapter in a young NHL career that’s been defined by steady growth and quiet confidence. Now he gets a chance to show how far he’s come-and how much more he can bring to a Bruins team with big aspirations.