By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44
After blocking a shot in the first period of Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm will miss some time. “Lower-body injury,” said Boston Bruins Head Coach Jim Montgomery when asked by reporters about Lindholm’s status. “It’s going to be weeks. Weeks is plural, and don’t ask me next week please,” added Montgomery.
The loss of Lindholm comes at a tough time for Boston. Last night saw the Bruins put together an inspired effort at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, where goals from Morgan Geekie, Charlie McAvoy, and David Pastrnak led the Bruins to a come-from-behind win.
Now, the Bruins will enter the Lone Star State without one of their best defensemen. The next ten games represents a pivotal stretch for a Bruins team sitting in third in the National Hockey League’s Atlantic Division, with a 8-7-2 record. Tomorrow night’s contest in Dallas is one of only two matchups in Boston’s next ten games against a team currently occupying a playoff spot.
With defenseman Andrew Peeke also sidelined with an injury, the Bruins recalled veteran defenseman Jordan Oesterle from the American Hockey League. Oesterle has played in 371 NHL games to date across five different organizations. This season, Oesterle has recorded eight points in nine games for the Providence Bruins, leading all defensemen on the team in scoring.
Regardless of the favorability of the Bruins’ upcoming schedule as well as their strong organizational depth, Boston will struggle to replace a player of Lindholm’s quality. With seven points in 17 games this season, Lindholm leads all Bruins’ defensemen in scoring this season. The Helsingborg, Sweden, natives absence will likely mean an increased workload for both Nikita Zadorov and Mason Lohrei. Lindholm’s absence poses a significant challenge for a Bruins team still trying to establish it’s footing in the early going. How will they respond?
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