McAvoy Back With a Bang After Six-Game Suspension
Chuck is back, Bruins fans! And he didn't waste any time letting everyone know.
Charlie McAvoy returned to the lineup on Tuesday night in San Jose after serving a six-game suspension, and in his very first game of the season he found the back of the net. JJ Peterka found a loose puck beside the Sharks' goalie and slid it across, and McAvoy, crashing the net with purpose, tapped it in for a 2-1 Boston lead. The Bruins went on to win 6-3.
If you were watching, you probably saw the joy on his face. And honestly, we felt it too.
Why he was out
In case you need a refresher, McAvoy's suspension came from a slash on Buffalo's Zach Benson in Game 6 of last spring's Eastern Conference First Round. That meant he had to sit out the first six games of this season, watching while his teammates got things started.
The team held the fort
Here's something we should all appreciate: the Bruins went 4-2-0 without their top defenseman. That says a lot about the depth on this blue line and the way the whole group has bought in. Guys like Nikita Zadorov, Will Borgen, Mason Lohrei and rookie Frederic Brunet stepped up, and the team kept winning.
But let's be real. There's no replacing what McAvoy brings. He's the guy who logs the big minutes, takes on the toughest matchups and drives play from the back end. Getting him back is like adding a star at the trade deadline, except we didn't have to give anything up.
How the defense lines up now
With McAvoy back, the blue line looks a lot deeper. He's slotted back in next to Hampus Lindholm on the top pair, Zadorov and Borgen make up the second pair, and Brunet and Lohrei form the third. That pushes Jonathan Aspirot and Connor Clifton out of the lineup for now, which gives coach Marco Sturm plenty of options if injuries hit down the road.
A stingy group getting stingier
Through seven games, the Bruins have given up just 16 goals, one of the lowest totals in the entire league. That's without their best defenseman for most of it. With McAvoy back, and Jeremy Swayman playing the way he has been, opponents are going to have a really tough time finding the net.
What to watch for
Now that he's back, keep an eye on how coach Marco Sturm uses him. McAvoy can play in every situation, and having him on the ice for the big moments gives the Bruins a calm, steady presence when games get tight. We expect to see him paired against the other team's top players a lot.
It'll also be fun to see how he helps the younger defensemen. Players like Brunet and Lohrei get to learn from one of the best in the business every single day, and that kind of mentorship can make a big difference over a long season.
Our take
We love this team's depth, and we love that they kept winning without him. But a healthy, motivated McAvoy makes the Bruins a different team, a team that can go toe-to-toe with anybody. Welcome back, Chuck. We missed you. 🐻