By: Ryan Jainchill | Follow me on Twitter / X @Jainchill_Ryan
The Boston Bruins have placed forwards Casey Mittelstadt and Viktor Arvidsson on injured reserve, defenseman Jordan Harris on long-term injured reserve, and recalled forwards Riley Tufte and Matej Blumel from AHL Providence, the team announced today. In addition to these injuries, Charlie McAvoy, who left Saturday’s win in Montreal early after taking a shot to the jaw, does not have a timeline yet and could still require surgery.
Mittelstadt, who has been out since Nov. 6th with a lower-body injury, and Arvidsson, who suffered a lower-body injury in the win over Montreal and is considered week-to-week, have been key cogs on the Bruins’ second line this season, along with Pavel Zacha. That line, who have been together for the majority of the season, have a combined 35 points in the team’s 20 games, and with Elias Lindholm still on the shelf with an injury, the line has stepped up in a big way. Now, with Mittelstadt and Arvidsson on the mend, others must continue to step up in their absence.
Harris, who has been out since Oct. 21 with a lower-body injury, now finds himself on long-term injured reserve with all the recent injuries for the Bruins. The Haverhill, Massachusetts, native underwent ankle surgery after getting injured in the Bruins’ 4-3 loss to Florida last month. According to reports, Harris is set to miss approximately two months of play.
Tufte, 27, is off to a scorching start in 13 games for Providence, notching 8-8-16, which is tied for the team lead in scoring and fifth in the league. In his first season with the organization, the former Dallas Stars draft pick appeared in six games for Boston and was held without a point, while recording 42 points in 58 games with Providence. With the hot start to the season for both Tufte and Providence, it was only a matter of time before he earned a call-up.
Blumel, 25, has appeared in 13 games for Providence this season, recording 2-11-13. Last season in the AHL with the Texas Stars, he finished second in the league in scoring with 72 points in 67 games. In his NHL career, the Czech Republic native has 2-0-2 in 13 games, all coming with the Dallas Stars. This past offseason, he signed a one-year contract with the Bruins on July 1st, but did not make the team out of camp. Now, he gets an opportunity in Boston to play valuable minutes.
McAvoy, who took a slapshot to the jaw in the 3-2 victory over Montreal, left the game immediately. He did travel back home with the team, which was a good sign. Head Coach Marco Sturm announced today that there is no timeline for their top defender and that surgery may still be an option.
Blumel and Tufte are set to make their season debuts for the injured Arvidsson and Mittelstadt for the Bruins tonight, as they welcome the Carolina Hurricanes to TD Garden for the second time this month. Ahead of the Bruins beginning their California swing on Wednesday in Anaheim, we will likely know more about the injury status of both Mittelstadt and Arvidsson, as well as McAvoy and Lindholm.
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